CHRISTEL YARDLEY / STUFF

Māori King Tuheitia has turned back to critics within the tribe. (File photo)

The Māori king Tuheitia is waving against those in the tribe who threaten to undermine his office.

During his speech on the last day of his twelfth annual celebration of his coronation, Tuheitia gave a clear warning.

"I'm sad that there are a few people in us who want to undermine my office and therefore the kiingitanga publicly," Tuheitia said. "I remember that my tupuna, Te Wherowhero, was facing similar threats, he simply decided that the hole that was dug for him would be filled by those with the shovel."

DAVID WHITE / STUFF

Tukoroirangi Morgan signed a 3-page letter scandal about the Māori king and his adviser Rangi Whakaruru (file photo).

The office of the king of Māori is faced with an investigation of a Serious Fraud Office and accusations in a letter written and signed by the former tuheitia adviser Tukoroirangi Morgan, who accuses it of more than $ 100,000 on perfume, beauty treatments and clothing while Waikato-Tainui children are fed sandwiches by a local gang.

In Morgan's letter, Tuheitia takes charge of criticism of him during the August Iwi Apprenticeship Forum in Hopuhopu.

Morgan said he had to defend himself after Tuheitia's conviction. Morgan also criticized Tuheitia's eloquent skills, saying that his speech was shameful and he was a bad communicator.

Māori Television

The advisor of the Māori Rangi Whakaruru is central to an SFO study.

On Tuesday Tuheitia told a crowd at Tūrangawaewae Marae, Ngāruawāhia, he will continue to serve the kiingitanga "to the best of his ability".

"And I will continue to speak loudly when necessary," Tuheitia said.

This year marks the 160th year of the kiingitanga.

"Since my last coronation [celebrations]a lot has happened. It is my duty to be entitled to things that affect the condition of the kiingitanga. You do not expect anything less from me, "he said.

"Our ancestors have created the kiingitanga to promote unity and help our people resist colonial oppression and to counter our further loss of our country."

"We have come too far not to go further and have invested so much that we no longer have to invest.

"To this end, I have instructed my consultants to start a process of future-proofing the kiingitanga for the next 160 years."

He called for tribes who helped establish the kiingitanga to revitalize old ties and proposed an olive branch for other Iwi and Pacific leaders to build a relationship.

"I want to safeguard the stability of the kiingitanga so that my family and my successors are no longer confronted with external, evasive, humiliating actions that reduce the mana of the kiingitanga."

Based on the script, he thanked the supporters of the kiingitanga core.

"Especially, my tūara (backbone) They go with me everywhere – tangi, hui, 28 poukai a year, they are here with me, I want to thank you all."

The office of Tuheitia, managed by Rangi Whakaruru, is central to an investigation into serious fraud practices.

In July, the king's office in Ngāruawāhia was searched by SFO personnel who examined the Ururangi Trust.

The trust receives $ 1.7 millon annually from its mother trust, Waikato-Tainui's Waikato Raupatu Lands Trust.

Trust manages the king's office.

– Stuff