The Māori king's coronation kicks off today at Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia.
The koroneihana runs through to Wednesday.
Re: News spoke to chief of staff Ngira Simmonds (Ngāti Raukawa) about what the koroneihana is and its significance.
The Māori King and his wife Atawhai. Photo/GettyImages
What is the koroneihana?
Ngira: The koroneihana is an annual celebration of the anniversary of the coronation of the current monarch of the Kiingitanga. This year marks 18 years of Kiingi Tuuheitia as king.
What is the history behind it?
Ngira: It's taken a different shape and form from each monarch's time, and what we understand now as koroneihana has come to be over the last 80-100 years.
The koroneihana used to take place at waahi paa in Huntly at one point, but with the establishment of Tūrangawaewae in Ngāruawāhia it shifted.
Ngāruawāhia is the place where the first king was crowned.
It's a multi-faceted event with a lot of things happening.
What happens at the koroneihana?
Ngira: It always starts on August 15 with a memorial dinner in memory of the King's mother. She died in 2006 on August 15 in the evening, and that's why we have it then.
This year will be slightly longer than usual, we have the kawe mate (mourning ceremony at another marae after the tangihanga and burial) days on Friday and Saturday. They are traditional and it is an opportunity to gather and remember those who have passed in the year gone by.
The first day is for Tainui and the second day is for all of the other iwi of the motu (nation).
Sunday is dedicated to sporting events.
We are preparing to have between 5,000 and 7,000 people each day.
Who’s invited?
Ngira: All you need to do is turn up, anybody can come.
There are certain kaupapa for each day but no one is ever turned away.
What do you hope to get out of it?
We’re hoping to continue the traction that te iwi Māori has been experiencing since the hui-ā-motu and the various gatherings we've had up and down the country.
This year there will be a particularly large international delegation.
We are confident there will be some robust conversations as te iwi Māori continue to express our views on a lot of the policies that relate to us and our well-being.
It also serves as an opportunity for all of us to come together to recommit ourselves to the journey of kotahitanga and that's why we do this every year.
What's something about the koroneihana not everyone would know?
Ngira: There are great opportunities to try out some Māori delicacies, there are iwi who have given food for generations and they continue to donate kai that are abundant in their parts of the country.
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