Thousands of people have made their way to Ngāruawāhia this weekend for the twelfth koroneihana celebration for the Māori king.
The kapahaka group Kahurangi ki Kaipara arriving at the annual koroneihana celebrations for the Māori king.
Photo: RNZ / John Boyton
The five-day celebrations were marred by accusations of extravagant expenses by the office of Kingi Tuheitia in a devastating letter written by his former adviser, Tukoroirangi Morgan.
But those who grew up with Mr. Morgan say that the public arena is not the place to make such accusations.
A media ban was in force at Tūrangawaewae Marae during the Koroneihana after the leak of an explosive letter written by Tukoroirangi Morgan.
In the letter Mr. Morgan said that the Māori king was seen as a puppet king with his strings pulled by his head advisor Rangi Whakaruru.
Iriwhata Te Kata is part of the hāngī crew of Tūrangawaewae Marae – and deeply respects the Kīngitanga movement.
"It is everything, man, you know that our grandparents and our grandparents before them – they lived and died for the Kīngitanga all their lands and possessions were contributed to the building of the Kīngitanga." [196] 59006] He believed that Mr. Morgan would treat his problems with the Kingi Tuheitia and Rangi Whakaruru face to face.
"After 160 years of bullocking ** t of the Pākehā – come on man you know that we do not mess up each other, we have to celebrate that we survived."
In his letter, Mr. Morgan said that Mr. Whakaruru demanded a $ 250,000 salary and had paid a tummy tuck and an expensive car through the Māori King office, the Te Ururangi Trust
Thousands of people filled Tūrangawaewae Marae for Kapa Haka, sports and other cultural events this weekend.
Mr. Te Kata said there was a reason why people were not deterred by the letter from Mr. Morgan.
"You look here you see all our mokopuna – they were all brought up by the Kīngitanga, by the Kīngitanga.
" They are not here because they have to be here they are conditioned by culture, kapa haka, the history, the whakapapa. "
Photo: RNZ / John Boynton
Crown Māori Relations Minister Kelvin Davis made no accusations about cruel misgivings at the Māori King's office when he met Kingi Tuheitia yesterday
"We are not here to pause on those issues, we" re here to celebrate the Kīngitanga, you know that it is always fantastic to come here and just to let you know enjoy the opportunity. "
Mr. Davis said he did not believe that the recent controversy would break the Kīngitanga.
"The Kīngitanga I have been here for 160 years and I am sure it will be here for another 160 who work for the well-being of the people here."
National faction leader Simon Bridges was also with the koroneihana – and said the accusations would be a problem issue for the movement.
"They will all be thinking about that. I hope they can pass by relatively quickly and be focused on their unity and their goal for the future."
The Māori king is expected to deliver his speech tomorrow on the last day of Koroneihana celebrations.
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