The waka carrying Kiingi Tuheitia to his resting place passes beneath the bridge at Ngāruawāhia. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi
In August, te ao Māori was rocked by the news that Te Arikinui Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII had died, aged 69, just days after celebrating the 18th anniversary of his coronation.
Kiingi Tuheitia had been in hospital recovering from heart surgery. He died peacefully, surrounded by his wife Te Makau Ariki Atawhai and their children Whatumoana, Korotangi and Nga wai hono i te po.
He had been crowned on 21 August 2006 following the death of his mother, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
In the last year of his life, Kiingi Tuheitia became synonymous with the word kotahitanga (unity) after he called a national hui in opposition to the government in January. In his speech to close the hui, he told the crowd: "The best protest we can do right now is being Māori ... Māori all day, every day, we are here, we are strong."
During his tangihanga, he was often referred to as 'te Kiingi o te Kotahitanga' or the King of Unity.
Tens of thousands shed tears
Manuhiri from all across the motu and beyond arrived at Tuurangawaewae to pay their respects to Kiingi Tuheitia. The first two days of the tangihanga were reserved for the people of Tainui, but there were a few notable exceptions, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Then, the gates of Tuurangawaewae were open to anyone. On the morning of 2 September alone, more than 10,000 people poured through the main gate, and a second gate had to be opened to allow everyone to enter the marae.
The guests were not only Māori - many of those who arrived to pay tribute were Pākehā, Pasifika and from overseas.
Kiingi Tuheitia lies beneath the mahau of the whare tūpuna Maahinaarangi at Tuurangawaewae Marae. Photo: supplied/Kiingitanga
Te Makau Ariki Atawhai (left), Kiingi Tuheitia's widow, beneath Maahinaarangi. Photo: Supplied / Kiingitanga
Hau kāinga welcome manuhiri to Tuurangawaewae on the second day of the tangihanga. Photo: Supplied / Kiingitanga
Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro arrives at Tuurangawaewae, flanked by the Tumuaki of the Rātana Church Manuao Te Kohamutunga Tamou (left) and the Ariki of Ngāti Tūwharetoa Sir Tumu Te Heuheu (right). Photo: Supplied/ Kiingitanga - Tuteri Rangihaeata
From left, the tumuaki of the Rātana Church Manuao Te Kohamutunga Tamou, Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, and the Ariki of Ngāti Tūwharetoa Sir Tumu Te Heuheu. Photo: Supplied/ Kiingitanga - Tuteri Rangihaeata
Speakers listen to the kōrero on the third day of Kiingi Tuheitia's tangi at Tuurangawaewae. Photo: Supplied/ Kiingitanga - Tuteri Rangihaeata
People sing waiata and pay their respects at Tuurangawaewae Marae. Photo: Supplied/ Kiingitanga - Tuteri Rangihaeata
Rātana representatives Te Taepa Kameta (left) and Kamaka Manuel (right) at the tangihanga of Kiingi Tuheitia. Photo: Supplied/ Kiingitanga - Tuteri Rangihaeata
A young band member of Te Haahi Rātana Brass Band. Photo: RNZ/ Emma Andrews
Former Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon delivers a whaikōrero. Photo: Supplied/ Kiingitanga - Tuteri Rangihaeata
Activist and artist Tame Iti listens to the whaikōrero. Photo: Supplied/ Kiingitanga - Tuteri Rangihaeata
People wait outside the gates of Tuurangawaewae on 2 September. Photo: Pokere Paewai / RNZ
A mourner wearing a pare kawakawa - a mourning wreath made of kawakawa leaves. Throughout the tangihanga, mourners would place wreaths in front of the whare tupuna Maahinaarangi. Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro
A young boy waits to pay his respects amidst a sea of pare kawakawa at the gates of Tuurangawaewae. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
A powerful pūkana by a rangatahi mourner as she awaits to pay her respects to Kiingi Tuheitia. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
On day five of Kiingi Tuheitia's tangihana, mourners began to arrive at sunrise on a misty Waikato morning. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
The gates of Tuurangawaewae. Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro
Behind the scenes
It took an entire army of volunteers to feed and take care of the tens of thousands of manuhiri who arrived at Tuurangawaewae for the tangihanga. From the Māori wardens directing traffic, to the women making sandwiches, to the children picking up rubbish on the riverbank, everyone at Tuurangawaewae had a role to play.
Kiingitanga spokesperson Rahui Papa said one of the maxims of the marae was "no one should go home hungry".
Wayne Whiu has been a Māori warden for over 24 years. He volunteered at the tangi of Kiingi Tuheitia's mother Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu as well. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
Māori wardens Polly Panapa and Wayne Whiu. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
Riingi Matatahi (left) and her mum Tutata Matatahi. Riingi was taught "how to make sandwiches properly" by her mother, and the team made thousands of sandwiches each day to feed the manuhiri. Photo: RNZ / Emma Andrews
The boys from Taniwharau Rugby League refurbished the path up Taupiri maunga before Kiingi Tuheitia was taken there. Photo: RNZ / Emma Andrews
Matariki Gray was one of the young people out every day picking up rubbish around the banks of the Waikato River. Photo: RNZ / Emma Andrews
Tui was one of many smiling volunteers greeting people as they arrived at Tuurangawaewae. Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ
Māori wardens Hohepa (right) and Dave (left). Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
A new Queen is raised up as Kiingi Tuheitia is laid to rest
On the final day of the tangihanga, Kiingi Tuheitia was carried aboard a special waka along the Waikato River from Tuurangawaewae marae to Taupiri Maunga.
Mourners lined both banks of the river to catch a glimpse of the waka as it passed by.
But before the late King left Tuurangawaewae, there was a ceremony to welcome his successor. Kiingi Tuheitia's youngest child and only daughter became the eighth head of the Kiingitanga - Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po.
Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po. Photo: Supplied
Crowds watch on inside Tuurangawaewae Marae, awaiting to hear who will succeed Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
Crowds react to the succession of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po. Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ
Crowds watch on outside Tuurangawaewae Marae as Nga wai hono i te po is named the new Māori queen. Photo: RNZ/Layla Bailey-McDowell
Kaihoe (paddlers) wait outside the gates of Tuurangawaewae to escort Kiingi Tuheitia to the waka. Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ
Kaihaka clears the path for the arrival of Kiingi Tuheitia. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
The casket is brought through the gates of Tuurangawaewae. Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ
Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po says goodbye to her father Kiingi Tuheitia before he is taken to Taupiri Maunga. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
Crowds gather as Kiingi Tuheitia is taken by hearse to the banks of the Waikato River to the waka which carries him to his final resting place at Taupiri. Photo: RNZ / Screenshot
Gang members join the procession to Taupiri Maunga. Photo: RNZ / Layla Bailey-McDowell
From the banks of the Waikato River, crowds watch the waka transporting Kiingi Tuheitia. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi
Kaihoe (paddlers) aboard the waka carrying Kiingi Tuheitia. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi
The waka carrying Kiingi Tuheitia heads to his final resting place at Taupiri Maunga. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi
A special train service was organised to take mourners from Tuurangawaewae to Taupiri. Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro
Mourners await the arrival of Kiingi Tuheitia at Taupiri Maunga. Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro
Supporters on motorbikes await Kiingi Tuheitia's arrival at Taupiri Maunga. Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro
Kiingi Tuheitia is laid to rest at Taupiri Maunga. Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro
Kiingi Tuheitia is carried to his final resting place at Taupiri Maunga. Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro
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