An assembly of Waikato-Tainui women have received moko kauae in preparation for the Māori King's 10th Coronation.
One of them is the daughter of King Tuheitia, 19-year-old Ngawai hono i te po Paki who spoke to Te Kāea from her home at Turangawaewae Marae.
Ngawai Paki says, "The real reason why I wanted to have my moko kauae done was to support and acknowledge my father and the decade he's spent on the throne. In the ten years my father has experienced so many things. So this is perhaps my gift to him, my moko kauae."
Last weekend 16 women had their moko kauae given to them by Tohunga Tā Moko Derek Lardelli, Rangi Kipa and Cy McLeod at a Moko-Papa wānanga at Waahi Pā.
She says, "If you see a moko kauae or full facial moko in this township or this community and if they are young or old I just want to see it and I want all New Zealanders to embrace it the way Māori already see it as being normal."
Koroneihana begins tomorrow with the commemoration of the late Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
For more on this story watch Te Kāea 5:30pm tonight on Māori Television.
