Prime Minister pays her respects to monarch

Helen Clark was invited to sit beside the coffin of Dame Te Ata, a place reserved for those very close to the family. Picture / Peter Drury

The Mother of the Nation and the leader of the nation were among the thousands to descend on Turangawaewae Marae yesterday to mourn Maoridom's longest-serving monarch, Dame Te Atairangikaahu.

Prime Minister Helen Clark, a large Government contingent, Green and New Zealand First MPs and former One News presenter Judy Bailey - often called the Mother of the Nation - were among visitors to the Ngaruawahia marae.

Helen Clark, in a move demonstrating the bond shared between the two leaders, was invited to sit beside the coffin of Dame Te Ata, and next to her eldest son, Tuheitia Paki, a position reserved for only those very close to the family.

The Prime Minister was also the first woman (and likely to be the only one) to speak on the marae during the tangihanga, a domain normally reserved by Tainui protocol for men.

She described Dame Te Ata's life as one of courage and immensely important for Maoridom.

She said Maoridom had seen immense change over the past 40 years, during which Dame Te Ata had played a leading part in linking the past while creating a new future.

Helen Clark also applauded the courage required to lead the way in the settlement of outstanding Treaty of Waitangi claims.

"Here at home in Waikato Tainui, she stood with her people as they moved to conclude the first major Treaty settlement with the Crown."

Also yesterday, Tainui chairman Tuku Morgan called on the Government to conclude his tribe's long-running Waikato River claim.

National Party leader Don Brash and a number of his MPs paid their respects in the afternoon.

The tangi was further swelled by large contingents from iwi including Ngati Porou, Kahungunu, Tuhoe and Ngati Hine.

* The All Blacks will wear black armbands at today's Eden Park test against the Wallabies. A minute's silence will be observed.