Pacific royalty side with Māori at Koroneihana celebrations

Pacific dignitaries and royalty are converging on Turangawaewae marae to mark the Māori King's coronation, but there are politics and cultural differences at play.

Koroneihana is a weeklong celebration marking eighteen years since Kiingi Tuheita was crowned, with many guests flying in from the region or travelling from across Aotearoa.

Tongan community leader Pakilau Manase Lua says the invite list is always significant, but this year is different.

“From my understanding, this is the first time the Kiingitanga has invited the Pasifika communities of Aotearoa to a hui.

“Usually it's reserved for our kings and our high chiefs from the islands, the King of Tonga and so on, but this has been an invitation out to our community leaders here in Aotearoa.

“Although these events tend to be more celebratory, it's steeped in a lot of tradition and history, and politics is something that can't be avoided often at these events.”

PMN political journalist Alakihihifo Vailala said it will be a momentous day, with a large Pacific presence.

“The King and Queen of Tonga will be at Turangawaewae today, as well as representatives from the chief families of the Cook Islands communities.”

The speeches began on Monday, with iwi leaders quick to berate the government on “attacks on Māori wellbeing”, such as the disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority, Māori wards and a coalition agreement to review the principles in the Waitangi Treaty.

“What usually impacts Māori impacts our communities as well,” said Pakilau.

“When you have systems and structures in a government that looks to attack Māori, those inevitably impact us.

“Many of our Pasifika nations went through the colonisation that occurred over a number of centuries and the effects are still felt today, so we should stand together with our tangata whenua, brothers and sisters, on the issues here.”

Cook Islands members of the House of Ariki arrive at Turangawaewae Marae. Photo/PMN News/Ala Vailala

Culture clash

More than 200 hundred members of the Pacific Leadership Forum will be attending, along with the newly established Council of Chiefs, led by former Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio.

“We have five buses arranged that are leaving Auckland early tomorrow morning,” said Pakilau.

Pakilau said there will be a few bumps in the road from differing Pacific structures, but hoped any differences could be eased with good intentions.

“In Sāmoa, which is the largest Pasifika community in Aotearoa, the fa’amatai requires you don’t just speak, you have to have a process to decide who speaks, because Sāmoa have a very flat hierarchical structure, so I’m hoping that’s been sorted outside of the paepae.

“For Tonga, because the King will be there, there’s no drama, we know our place and the structures are clear. We know the seniority and we know who has the right to speak in Aotearoa.”

Kiingitanga has always nurtured ties with Pacific communities, but relations reached a new milestone in January at te hui aa motu, a national unity meeting with Aupito asked to be one of the key speakers.

Political powerplay

Vailala said the event will serve as a mood-marker for the government, who have been in power for almost ten months, and could be a snapshot of what relations between the Crown and iwi will look like in future.

“It's very important for the government to front up for this, which is probably why it's not a good look that ACT aren't attending this event, especially considering their leader is going to be the Deputy Prime Minister in a few months.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins and the opposition delivered fiery speeches at the paepae, and found it easy to double down on criticising government decisions, said Vailala.

“That’s kind of the beauty of being in opposition is that you’re kind of seen as a good guy sometimes, and yesterday was one of those days.”

Watch the full interview on Pacific Mornings: