The Maori Queen will take part in the final hui a motu organized by Ngāi Tahu

Te Arikinui Queeni Ngā wai hono y te po is set to make her first major appearance since her father’s death as thousands head south to attend tomorrow’s hui a-motu final.

“Of course there is a tinge of sadness that her father is not here, but she is determined to achieve his vision,” Kiingitanga spokeswoman Ngira Simmonds said.

The gathering at Tuahiwi Marae, north of Christchurch, is part of a national movement led by the late King Tuheitia earlier this year to unite Maori amid a wave of controversial government policies.

According to Simmonds, according to Tikanga, she will not be performing at the event, which will take place shortly after her father’s death.

“In accordance with our tikanga, our customs and traditions, for the first 12 months after the death of the king, the queen will remain silent.”

Instead, she will continue to mourn the late king, taking his consort or, so to speak, the essence of his memory into the hui.

The first hui a-motu in January attracted more than 10,000 people to Ngaruawahia and it was there that Kingi Tuheitia said: “Let the four winds say as we find our kotahitanga, nga hau e wa, kia kotahi ra. After we have heard from the four winds, I call us together again,” calling on tribes from all corners of the earth to continue the movement in their regions.

Earlier this year the Hui at Ratana in the west, Waitangi in the north and Omaha in the east passed.

Ngāi Tahu is hosting its final hui a motu called Te Punuiotoka, which will focus on Indigenous economics and tribal institution-building. Speakers will include indigenous peoples from overseas.

Ivy Leadership Working Group Chairman Helmut Modlik said a number of issues had been raised at the last four meetings – issues that he hopes will be addressed at tomorrow’s event and in the future.

“Some clear signals have been given about what the motu wants to see, for example our people are not interested in parliament. They want Māori, they want to see our kupa, our tikanga.”