Kiingitanga pays tribute to ‘special’ royal relationship

The Māori King, Tūheitia, has paid tribute to Prince Philip and sent condolences to Queen Elizabeth II, who was the first monarch to meet with the Kiingitanga.

King Tūheitia included Philip in his tributes to the dead on Saturday, at a ceremony at Te Papa o Rotu marae.

Philip, who was also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, died on Friday at Windsor Castle, two months before his 100th birthday.

He had been ill for many months and in 2017 retired from public life. Before his hospitalisation in February, he had been isolating at Windsor Castle with the Queen.

He was discharged from hospital midMarch and returned to Windsor Castle.

A statement from the Kiingitanga said that Tūheitia and his wife, Makau Ariki Atawhai, were mourning the duke’s death.

‘‘The Kiingitanga has welcomed members of the House of Windsor many times to Tūrangawaewae Marae.

‘‘The image of the Queen and Duke holds pride of place in Mahinarangi as a reminder of a warm and special relationship between the two royal houses,’’ the statement said.

The Mahinarangi is the main meeting house at Tūrangawaewae Marae, where the Kiingitanga is based.

Prince Charles, the duke and Queen’s son, visited Turangawaewae Marae in 2015 with Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to meet with the Kiingitanga in 1953, when she and Prince Philip visited Tūrangawaewae Marae.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also sent her condolences to the British royal family. ‘‘On behalf of the New Zealand people and the Government, I would like to express my sincere condolences to Her Majesty and to all the royal family.

‘‘His Royal Highness accompanied the Queen on her 10 visits to New Zealand, the first being in 1953, and the last in 2002.’’

Flags are flying at half-mast at Wellington’s Government House and the Beehive following Philip’s death. The New Zealand Defence Force also performed a 41-gun salute yesterday in the capital.