Maori King’s funeral: Mourners in New Zealand pay their respect
Thousands of mourners have attended the funeral of New Zealand’s Maori king.
King Tuheitia died last week at the age of 69.
New Zealand’s Maori chiefs have anointed a 27-year-old queen as their new monarch.
The choice of Nga Wai Hono i te po Paki was welcomed as a symbol of change for the Indigenous community.
She is the youngest child and only daughter of King Tuheitia.
After being selected by a council of chiefs, Nga Wai was ushered to the throne by a group of men bearing ceremonial weapons who chanted, screamed and shouted in acclamation.
It comes at a time of increased ethnic tension in New Zealand with the right-wing government reviewing or cancelling policies that favour Indigenous Maori.
Al Jazeera’s Wayne Hay reports from Ngaruawahia, New Zealand.
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