A pōwhiri for ngā Ariki o te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, Koroneihana celebrations 2025. Photo: Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga
"Less government, more tino rangatiratanga."
That is the word from Waikato-Tainui kaikōrero Tukoroirangi Morgan who called for a more direct relationship between Māori and nations around the world.
It is the third day of Koroneihana celebrations at Tūrangawaewae Marae, where people from around the country have come to mourn their loved ones and pay their respect to Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po.
That invitation was extended to the world on Thursday as Pacific leaders and members of the Diplomatic Corps were welcomed onto the marae.
An ope from Te Tauihu brought with them a whale jaw bone that was gifted to Te Arikinui in May as part of her first visit official visit to the top of the South Island.
The jawbone (kauae parāoa) and 48 teeth (niho) were gifted to Te Arikinui from the eight iwi of Te Tauihu and came from a sperm whale that washed ashore on Rabbit Island in 2016.
Tūrangawaewae Marae where the celebrations are taking place. Photo: Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga
Speaking to Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Alfredo Rogerio Pérez Bravo, Tukoroirangi Morgan said he brought representatives from 67 of the most powerful nations in the world to Tūrangawaewae.
He called on them to begin dealing with Māori directly.
"There should be no encumbrances as we deal directly with you. Our government should not be an impediment. We should be able to operate mana to mana, our people with your people, our businesses with your businesses," he said.
Morgan said the Māori economy was the fastest growing in the country and Māori were ready to do business with other nations directly, without the "gateway" of the government.
The youth of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po was a driving motivation to "break the shackles of dependency" on the government, he said.
"Less government, more tino rangatiratanga. Less government, less dependency on the Crown and a greater future for our young and for our babies," Morgan said.
Green Party Co-leaders Chlöe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson attend Koroneihana. Photo: Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga
Politicians also made their way to the marae on Thursday, with both Labour and the Greens arriving this morning.
Both Te Pāti Māori co-leaders and a small group of National MPs, including Tama Potaka, came onto the marae with the wider motū on Wednesday.
Morgan said they were welcome on the marae, but politics would not be the focus of the gathering.
"To the politicians who are here, to the leader of the opposition, even though you haven't had a voice today, this is the people's celebration, not the celebration of politicians."
Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po at her first Koroneihana celebrations. Photo: Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga
One absence at the marae was Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who spent the day in Auckland at the unveiling of New Zealand's first IKEA store at Sylvia Park.
Kiingitanga kaikōrero Rahui Papa told media Luxon had already met with Te Arikinui the week prior ot the celebrations.
"We're not pushing anybody away, but we're not going to force people to come to Koroneihana as well so it's really up to them," he said.
"Te Arikinui has met with the prime minister and we can see some of the politicians here today, but that's not our primary focus. The primary focus of Koroneihana is kotahitanga."
Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po is due to deliver her first public address on Friday, 5 September, one year on from her coronation.
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