August 07, 2020
Koroneihana goes on Zoom time
Iwi kaikōrero from around the motu were last night briefed on what they can expect from the first COVID-era Koroneihana hui at Tūrangawaewae Marae.
Organiser Brad Totorewa says usually speakers are briefed on tikanga 30 minutes before the start of the pōwhiri, but this time they came together on Zoom to get the heads up two weeks in advance of what is the high point of the year for the Kiingitanga.
Among the major changes is the decision to bring the kawe mate o te motu, which involves a four and a half hour pōwhiri, and the king’s coronation day, which is another four hours of speeches, into one two-hour pōwhiri.
It will be led out by Rātana.
"Tradition states that Rātana have their own pōwhiri and it's usually 6 am but this year they will lead the motu on, so these are significant changes – how do you allow speakers to speak within the two hours, or actually it is only going to be one and a half hours at most, so these are some of the things we were discussing last night," Mr Totorewa says.
Koroneihana organisers also intend to make it possible to contract trace all hui participants, if required.
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