MAORI "KING" ON TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21906, 15 September 1934, Page 14

MAORI "KING" ON TOUR

WELCOMED BY THE ARAWAB LONG-STANDING BREACH ENDED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION! ROTORTJA, Friday Paying the first visit of any Maori "King" to Arawa territory since 1883, when the first "King," Tawhaio, visited Maketu, Koroki, the newlycrowned "King," accompanied by Princess Te Puea and a party of over 70 leaders of Waikato, Ngapuhi, Tau* ranga and Taupo tribes, was to-day welcomed on the kianga of Ngati Pikiao, one of the largest sub-tribes of Te Arawa residing around the shores of Lake Rotoiti. Picturesque and traditional Maori ceremonial was associated with the welcome, Ngati Pikiao natives mustering in force to greet the visitors with waving fern fronds And branches of trees. The ceremony marked the healing of a long-standing breach between the Ngati Pikiao and W a^ato tribes, and in the speeches made by leaders of the two parties the hope was expressed that there would be a reconciliation between the whole of the Arawa tribe and the "King" party. , * A large hall erected on the Ngati Pikiao kianga was dedicated by two tohungas attached to the "King's" party, with traditional ceremony and to the accompaniment of ancient chant* as sung by Maoris of old. Koroki then turned the key in the door of the hall, in which building a conference of tribe* was held during the evening.