Māori and Pacific voices say they are feeling inspired by the leadership of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, who will deliver her first national address on Friday, after a year of mourning.
For many that RNZ spoke to at Koroneihana, the image of a young wāhine Māori stepping into the highest role of the Kiingitanga was a moment worth celebrating.
Linzie Mata'afa and Maia Lusia Anitele'a, young Pacific tauira, said seeing a young wāhine take up the role of Te Arikinui was powerful.
Photo: Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga
"As young Pacific women, especially being in spaces like this, it's amazing to see how as time goes by, we see more women getting into these spaces," Mata'afa said.
"Especially coming from times where women weren't as appreciated as they were now, and especially as women who aspire to be like those women who are speaking up there."
Anitele'a said she was moved when she first learned a new Māori queen had been crowned.
Linzie Mata'afa and Maia Lusia Anitele'a, young Pacific tauira, said seeing a rangatahi wāhine take up the role of Te Arikinui was powerful and inspiring. Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ
"I nearly started to tear up because just seeing powerful wāhine in leadership positions, respected positions, but also being so elegant and wise and powerful, it's so inspiring.
"One day I could be in a position like that, or like my friends, my other sisters - that we can all come to that level, that we're not down here, but actually that we can be in those spaces and in those seats."
Photo: Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga
When asked what message they would share with Te Arikinui ahead of her address, Anitele'a said:
"I love you so much. That suit you wore today, ate, that was a power move. You looked so good.
"You already know this, It's not just for you or your people, but it's for all young, brown, indigenous youth. You're doing amazing."
Mata'afa described Te Arikinui's kākahu as a "bold statement that you're here for business, you aren't here to play around … we love to see it".
Their three kupu to describe Te Arikinui were: "Powerful. Ātaahua. Indigenous."
For Isabella Teina Teokotai (Ngā Moutere o Ngā Kūki Airani, Ngāti Ranginui, Hāmoa) the Koroneihana celebration was one of pride.
"He miharo rawa ki ahau, nā te mea nō Ngā Kūki Airani me Tauranga hoki ahau (It's amazing for me because I'm from the Cook Islands and Tauranga).
"So it's like my two worlds colliding," she told RNZ.
Bree Vincent, Isabella Teina Teokotai, Byron Stewart-Leatau said they were looking forward to hearing Te Arikinui address the nation for the first time. Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ
Her friends, Byron Stewart-Leatau (Ngāpuhi, Waikato, Niue) and Bree Vincent (Ngāti Raukawa ki Te Kaokaoroa-o-Pātetere) said Koroneihana showed the strength of whanaungatanga across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.
"If there's anything that Māori do well, it's congregate. And it's just amazing to see us all together," Vincent said.
"It's a beautiful experience and everyone should come."
The trio, all tauira of Te Tohu Paetahi, said they were looking forward to hearing Te Arikinui speak.
"Kia kaha," Teokotai said.
"Nāna i whakakotahi anō i a mātou katoa, ko ngā iwi katoa."
Vincent said it was a fantastic first year for Te Arikinui, and they were looking forward to the future under her reign.
"I feel like, because we're the same age and she's taken on this huge responsibility, katoa ngā haepapa o ngā iwi katoa o Aotearoa, I'm just so proud of her.
"Our rangatahi have this beautiful tauira to look up to and to aspire to be like and follow on their journey."
Kaiako from Te Wānanga Takiura Bianca Beard and Te Awhina Rangimarie Mitchell Tungatt attended Koroneihana celebrations alongside their akomanga to 'hear and smell the fruits of unity among Māori.' Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ
Students from Te Wānanga o Takiura, a kaupapa Māori immersion institution based in Tāmaki Makaurau, arrived for the Koroneihana celebrations under the blanket of kotahitanga.
Te Awhina Rangimarie Mitchell Tungatt, known as 'Kōkā Awhi' said:
"Ko te take kua tae mai mātau i tēnei rā tuatahi he kawe mai i ngā akomanga o te Wānanga o Takiura kia rongo i te kakara i te hua nui o te iwi Māori i te kotahitanga, tuarua kia whakarangatira kā tika i tō tātau Kuini i tēnei haerenga ōna me te tautoko i te kaupapa o te wā nei (We've arrived here today first: to bring our classes from Te Wānanga o Takiura so they can hear and smell the fruits of unity among Māori, second: to celebrate our Monarch on this journey of hers and third: to support the matter of the day)."
To see a young wāhine take the lead as Te Arikinui was inspiring, she said, adding that she had no words to describe the feeling.
"Maha ngā kōrero engari pono te kōrero kāre he kupu. He ataahua te kite atu i te reanga Kōhanga Reo e tū mai nei ki te ārahi i tō tātau iwi Māori (There's a lot to say but I don't have any words. It's great to see the Kōhanga Reo generation stand up and lead Māori).
"Otirā tōna ataahua rirerire, ka rongo i tōna wairua, pai tōna wairua aroha ki ngā tangata... kaore he tangata i tū atu hei ārahi i ā tātau. Kāre he kupu, autaia ake nei, wetiweti ana (And [Te Arikinui] looked beautiful, you could feel her spirit and her love for the people ... there is no one better to lead our people. I have no words, it was amazing)."
Rhoen Hemara and Rawiri Howard, ākonga of Te Wānanga o Takiura, said it was important as young people to see a rangatahi leader in that position. Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ
Tauira from Kōkā Awhi's akomanga Rhoen Hemara and Rawiri Howard said seeing a rangatahi leader in the role of Te Arikinui showed what was possible for their generation.
"It's good to see our rangatahi … stepping up into those leadership positions, having those moments to be able to stand up and say what they feel," Howard said.
"It's not too far away 'till we're in the limelight, until this is our world."
Hemara said it was inspiring to see successors for kaumātua already emerging.
"It's important, especially for us as rangatahi Māori, to see a rangatahi leader in that position. Because for our kaumātua, it's important that we have successors that can take over that mahi for them."
The duo said the experience was also strengthening their reo journey.
"If I was here a year ago, I probably wouldn't know what this whole ao would be … but now it's just adding more to my kete," Hemara said.
"It's real good coming in and understanding the speeches, not just laughing when everyone else laughs," Howard added.
"And one of my highlights was definitely seeing our Moana-nui-a-Kiwa whānau come in and their first speaker today speaking Māori."
Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po receives a koha from Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa, as she marks the first day of her Koroneihana celebrations. Photo: Image courtesy of Te Tari o te Kiingitanga
When asked what they would say to Te Arikinui ahead of her national address, the rangatahi voices shared an encouraging message of support.
"E te Kuini, tū tika ki tō whakapono. Tū tonu, toitū ō whakaaro (Our Queen, stand firm in your beliefs. Stand strong, let your thoughts and vision endure)," Howard said.
"Āe, me whakapono koe ki a koe anō. Whaia tonu tēnā. Tū kaha mō tō ao Māori i roto i tēnei ao Pākehā (Yes, believe in yourself. Keep following that path. Be strong for your Māori world within this Pākehā world)."
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