03:27Thousands gathered at Turangawaewae Marae in New Zealand on Wednesday to pay their respects to Maori King Tuheitia, who died last Friday at the age of 69.
Footage shows members of the Maori community singing and performing the traditional 'Haka', a war dance which displays a tribe's pride and unity. Large crowds are seen walking alongside the late king's casket as it is carried to Taupiri Mountain for burial.
"He will remain a very marked presence in our history. He will forever be cemented in the minds and hearts of the people he grew up with," said Waihoroi Shortland, a former schoolmate of King Tuheitia.
"Many of these boys you see here, men, old men you see around here, grew up with him. He's from our generation," he added.
On the final morning of the six-day 'tangihanga' (funeral), Nga Wai Hono i te po Paki, the late king's youngest child and only daughter, was revealed as the second Maori queen in history.
"I can't say that the next monarch will have the same leadership style, but it will take a bit of time for us to get used to how they lead us into the future," said one guest.
"We've lost one, but we've gained a new one. So we look at it, ahead to the future with hope," added a second guest.
King Tuheitia died after undergoing heart surgery just days after celebrating his 18th year on the throne. His death comes months after he issued a rare royal proclamation to rally in unity against government policies that were widely considered a rollback of Maori rights.
"It's not only up to whoever succeeds him, it's also up to us as the tribal nations across Aotearoa to be part of that unifying voice and 'kaupapa' that he has been talking to us very clearly in his final years," said one guest.
"A major loss for Maori people," remarked another guest. "Not just Maori people, but for all peoples all over the globe. A major loss," he continued.
The ascension of King Tuheitia's daughter is considered a symbol of change for the Indigenous community as she takes up the mantle of leadership and the fight for equality left by her father.
'A major loss' - Thousands attend funeral of Maori King in New Zealand as new queen crowned
Thousands gathered at Turangawaewae Marae in New Zealand on Wednesday to pay their respects to Maori King Tuheitia, who died last Friday at the age of 69.
Footage shows members of the Maori community singing and performing the traditional 'Haka', a war dance which displays a tribe's pride and unity. Large crowds are seen walking alongside the late king's casket as it is carried to Taupiri Mountain for burial.
"He will remain a very marked presence in our history. He will forever be cemented in the minds and hearts of the people he grew up with," said Waihoroi Shortland, a former schoolmate of King Tuheitia.
"Many of these boys you see here, men, old men you see around here, grew up with him. He's from our generation," he added.
On the final morning of the six-day 'tangihanga' (funeral), Nga Wai Hono i te po Paki, the late king's youngest child and only daughter, was revealed as the second Maori queen in history.
"I can't say that the next monarch will have the same leadership style, but it will take a bit of time for us to get used to how they lead us into the future," said one guest.
"We've lost one, but we've gained a new one. So we look at it, ahead to the future with hope," added a second guest.
King Tuheitia died after undergoing heart surgery just days after celebrating his 18th year on the throne. His death comes months after he issued a rare royal proclamation to rally in unity against government policies that were widely considered a rollback of Maori rights.
"It's not only up to whoever succeeds him, it's also up to us as the tribal nations across Aotearoa to be part of that unifying voice and 'kaupapa' that he has been talking to us very clearly in his final years," said one guest.
"A major loss for Maori people," remarked another guest. "Not just Maori people, but for all peoples all over the globe. A major loss," he continued.
The ascension of King Tuheitia's daughter is considered a symbol of change for the Indigenous community as she takes up the mantle of leadership and the fight for equality left by her father.
Thousands gathered at Turangawaewae Marae in New Zealand on Wednesday to pay their respects to Maori King Tuheitia, who died last Friday at the age of 69.
Footage shows members of the Maori community singing and performing the traditional 'Haka', a war dance which displays a tribe's pride and unity. Large crowds are seen walking alongside the late king's casket as it is carried to Taupiri Mountain for burial.
"He will remain a very marked presence in our history. He will forever be cemented in the minds and hearts of the people he grew up with," said Waihoroi Shortland, a former schoolmate of King Tuheitia.
"Many of these boys you see here, men, old men you see around here, grew up with him. He's from our generation," he added.
On the final morning of the six-day 'tangihanga' (funeral), Nga Wai Hono i te po Paki, the late king's youngest child and only daughter, was revealed as the second Maori queen in history.
"I can't say that the next monarch will have the same leadership style, but it will take a bit of time for us to get used to how they lead us into the future," said one guest.
"We've lost one, but we've gained a new one. So we look at it, ahead to the future with hope," added a second guest.
King Tuheitia died after undergoing heart surgery just days after celebrating his 18th year on the throne. His death comes months after he issued a rare royal proclamation to rally in unity against government policies that were widely considered a rollback of Maori rights.
"It's not only up to whoever succeeds him, it's also up to us as the tribal nations across Aotearoa to be part of that unifying voice and 'kaupapa' that he has been talking to us very clearly in his final years," said one guest.
"A major loss for Maori people," remarked another guest. "Not just Maori people, but for all peoples all over the globe. A major loss," he continued.
The ascension of King Tuheitia's daughter is considered a symbol of change for the Indigenous community as she takes up the mantle of leadership and the fight for equality left by her father.