Royal sendoff
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were greeted by hundreds of voices in a resounding haka, had a mana bestowed upon them and treated to a real Kiwi experience on the final full day of their New Zealand tour.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Redwoods Treewalk in Rotorua yesterday, in the final stop on their 16-day royal tour, as staff and a crowd of mountain bikers, dog walkers and children dressed in Halloween-costumes greeted them.
The couple admired a 2000-year-old trunk section of Californian redwood, there as a comparison to the muchyounger, slimmer, 117-year-old ones in this forest, before holding hands as they walked through the redwood forest at ground level.
A group of mountain bikers riding past met the royals, and the duchess greeted them with a ‘‘kia ora’’. She was gifted a soft-toy tuatara, which she squeezed, then commented, ‘‘Oh, it makes a noise.’’
Prince Harry asked the riders, ‘‘Do you know how lucky you are to have a place like this?’’
The duchess added: ‘‘This place is your backyard. It’s great. It’s really special. Beautiful.’’
Prince Harry joked to biker Tuhoto-Ariki Pene, 17, our national downhill champ, about the black leather shoes he was wearing with his riding gear, quipping, ‘‘Someone said smart casual?’’
The Maketu biker later said, ‘‘He said, ‘You look like a professional!’ I said, ‘You caught me out this time.’ I raced in the weekend so my gear wasn’t clean.’’
The royals expressed their regret that they didn’t have a chance to ride themselves but hoped to be back. As they left, Harry said, ‘‘Bye, guys, enjoy this heaven.’’ They walked away holding hands through the redwoods.
Earlier, a group of children gave an impromptu haka to Prince Harry during a royal walkabout after they had visited Rainbow Springs nature park. Crowds squealed with excitement as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex walked past them. One little girl was allowed past the barriers and to give the duchess a hug.
Before the walkabout, the royals visited Rainbow Springs nature park, where the media pack and others gathered at the hatchery were treated to a kiwi chick hatching in front of them moments before the royals arrived.
The royal couple learned about a kiwi breeding programme, and they got to name two three-day old chicks – Koha means gift, while Tihei is from the Ma¯ ori saying ‘tihei mauri ora’, which means sneeze of life.
Kiwi for kiwis executive director Michelle Impey said the visit, and the global coverage the royal couple brought, would be good for kiwi conservation. ‘‘There’s a lot of preparation in hosting the royals, but it’s worth it.’’
Yesterday, the duke and duchess visited Te Papaiouru Marae for a formal powhiri before enjoying lunch there.
The duchess wore a specially woven korowai representing her mana and position as a powerful woman.
At the marae, Prince Harry began his speech in te reo, and every line was greeted with applause, as school kids in yellow polos, warriors with taiaha and korowai-clad kuia looked on.
‘‘Thank you so much for the beautiful cloak you have gifted myself and the duchess,’’ said Harry, adding it would be treasured in the family.
He then led the waiata himself, singing all of the words to Te Aroha in te reo.
Representatives of Tuwharetoa gifted the duke and duchess a carved waka tewhatewha, from 2000-year-old Totara. The prince was told not to take it to Twickenham rugby ground when England played the All Blacks because he might turn it on the Kiwis.
The duchess received a bouquet of lily of the valley flowers from Trevor Maxwell’s grandchild Atareta – the same flowers she had at her wedding. The two shared a hongi as she shared a few words with her.
International journalists present at the gathering said Rotorua had ‘‘stolen the show’’ with its welcome. One cameraman said ‘‘they have saved the best for last’’.
The royal couple had a chance to see the steam boxes outside the wharekai where some of their lunch was prepared. Kuia Rene Mitchell, the sister of the late Howard Morrison, gave them a demonstration on how to make a steam pudding before they entered the wharekai.
The royals were followed on their visit by a royal flagstaff, carried by members of the Mitchell wha¯ nau, which have been its guardians since 1901. The flagstaff was gifted to Te Arawa then, after a visit by the Duke of Cornwall and York. Yesterday, four Mitchell family members carried it: Shaloh Mitchell, 44; his eldest daughter Alesha, 22; his mother Te Kiriwhero, 69; and his father Ike Regman, 70.
The Duchess of Sussex received the woven cloak to wear at O¯ hinemutu before she stepped onto Te Papaiouru Marae a¯ tea. Te Arawa spokesperson Sir Toby Curtis said the royal couple’s visit to Rotorua was of huge importance to the iwi and Ma¯ ori.
It allowed the tribe to extend its manaakitanga or respect and care, to the couple which would allow watchers around the world to experience the tribe’s hospitality.
The couple’s interest in environmental projects fitted well with initiatives the tribe had underway and the couple’s wish to meet young people was especially important.
The duchess is a role model for Ma¯ ori, Curtis said.
‘‘She has shown you can succeed, make a difference and be your own person while also celebrating your heritage. This inspires us all.’’
The korowai creator, Nga¯ ti Whakaue elder and artist Norma Sturley said in Ma¯ ori history, women tupuna (ancestors) have always had a prominent role. A Ma¯ ori chieftainess had a korowai to demonstrate her ranga¯ tiratanga (chiefly authority) and women also fought in battles – not taking a backseat for their gender.
‘‘We see the duchess as representing strong kaupapa (values) for women – she displays aroha (love), manaakitanga (nurturing & hospitality), mana (influence), dignity and strength, all signs of great leadership,’’ Sturley said.
As for duchess’ pregnancy, the korowai also holds representations for this exciting news.
‘‘The korowai is like a protector, to wrap a korowai around someone is to envelop them in strength, warmth and aroha (love). In Ma¯ ori history, korowai were made initially to keep people warm. Coming from the warmer climate of Hawaiki we adapted by weaving clothes using materials such as harakeke (flax) to keep warm.’’
Sturley said the ta¯ niko base of the korowai was inspired by the Coat of Arms for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, using silk colours of blue, gold, white and red.
She’s had her works included as part of national exhibitions, for international dignitaries and in museums overseas. She learnt to weave as a child at Waikuta marae in Rotorua, picking up the skill from her grandmother and mother who wove all their lives. She has been weaving with her husband Terry Sturley (an Englishman she taught the skill to) for over 40 years.
Sturley said to make the korowai for the duchess, her husband cut harakeke (flax) and stripped it using a mussel shell to get the muka (fibre) out. He then beat the fibre on a stone until it was soft and white, before boiling it in tutu leaves for softening and colour. Sturley then began the process of miro (rolling the fibre on her legs) to join the fibres into long lengths, before starting to weave.