Traditional mourning period begins for Maori queen

Tribal chiefs wearing wreaths of green leaves opened a traditional mourning period today for the revered queen of New Zealand’s indigenous Maori, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, who died after a long illness aged 75.

Hundreds of people who gathered for prayers at her home village of Naruawahia were the first of thousands expected to pay their respects during a six-day tangihanga (farewell) period, said family spokeswoman Nanaia Mahuta.