Māori King meets PM Christopher Luxon, days before national hui

Monday, 15 January 2024

It's the first time Kiingi Tuheitia has issued a royal proclamation in more than a decade.

Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has met with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, days before a nationwide hui called for Saturday, amid fears of the coalition Government’s plans for Māori.

Luxon, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka and Kiingi Tuheitia met on Monday morning.

“The meeting had been planned since last year and was an opportunity to further build on the relationship they have established in the last two years,” a spokesperson for the prime minister said.

The Kiingitanga has called a nationwide hui, with more than 3000 guests expected to attend, according to Te Kiingitanga and Tainui iwi.

Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has met with PM Christopher Luxon.

Iwi around the motu are also deciding whether they’ll be in attendance.

It remains unclear if anyone from the Government will show up.

MPs from Labour, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori have all confirmed they will be at the hui, to be held January 20 at Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia.

Such a hui is extremely rare. Late last year, the Māori King issued a royal proclamation, Te Paki o Matariki, calling for all iwi to meet to discuss the political situation.

Te Paki o Matariki is the highest form of royal proclamation the Kiingitanga can send. It said the hui would aim to unite te iwi Māori for “kōrero and wānanga guided by our tikanga”.