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In his first significant international foray, Maori King Tuheitia will next week sign a declaration of unity with other Pacific royalty. But organisers are stressing the non-political nature of the meeting.
In a rare move, Pacific royal households will meet in Tahiti for three days from, September 12.
Those represented will include Samoa, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Cook Islands, Hawaii, New Caledonia, and Tonga.
Spokeswoman for Tahitian Prince Teriihinoiatua Joiville Pomare, Roti Make, said the declaration was about improving education - a theme King Tuheitia raised at his coronation commemorations in August - and economic development across the Pacific.
"It's not a political meeting, it's a cultural meeting - we're discussing the value of the traditional families and what is their duty, what we can do to make a better world, [and] what can be done for better living conditions for the populations of each country."
A programme of action would flow from the declaration, and the hope was that it would become a bi-annual event, she said.
Spokeswoman Moko Templeton said King Tuheitia's trip would be an opportunity to maintain relationships fostered by his late mother Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
But it was also about Polynesian people making commitments to each other, based on common cultural links, Ms Templeton said.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative Tia Barrett and Ngati Tuwharetoa paramount chief Tumu te Heuheu will accompany King Tuheitia.
