Kiingitanga advisor Rahui Papa has spoken to the manuhiri, welcoming politicians to Tuurangawaewae Marae to pay their respects to Kiingi Tuheitia.
Thousands of mourners have been gathering to pay their respects to Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII this week, with the people of Tainui epitomising the Māori value of Manaakitanga - or hospitality - during the tangihanga.
Papa told ACT leader David Seymour there was some consternation about koroneihana, "but your arrival here today has allayed all of that, we honour you for fronting up at a very very important time in the lifespan of the Kiingitanga".
"We hope that you'll take something away from today, that we're not that scary and we can have the discussion face to face, because we'll look after you, David. You have come to show your aroha and your words to Kiingi Tuheitia today and we respect that.
"We said we're not going to talk politics, and at this point there's no 'but'. Because Kiingi Tuheitia said our kotahitanga shouldn't be focused on fighting the government, actually we should be forging a waka that we can all work together."
Papa said Prime Minister Christopher Luxon came towards the beginning of the tangihanga process, and he welcomed Gerry Brownlee and other members of the government who came today.
He paid tribute to others, including cousins from across the globe, and the dean of the diplomatic corps. He said Kiingi Tuheitia was a "global citizen" and it was a testament to that to see them all returned to Tuurangawaewae.
