Picture: Royal Rotorua welcome for Maori King

Picture / Alan Gibson

The new Maori King, Tuheitia (in cloak), reaffirmed the King Movement's bonds with Rotorua's Ngati Pikiao hapu yesterday at Houmaitawhiti Marae.

The event marked the first official visit by the King outside his Waikato tribal boundaries, since his coronation at Turangawaewae Marae last month.

About 2000 people, including representatives from Ngaiterangi, Ngati Awa, Tuwharetoa, Whakatohea, Kahungunu, Tuhoe and Ngati Ranginui, turned out for the welcome - a prestigious event for the Arawa subtribe, which maintains strong whakapapa and tribal links to the King Movement.

King Tuheitia will visit Tamatekapua Marae at Ohinemutu today and attend a kapa haka competition.