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Maori king refuses to meet Duke of Cambridge during New Zealand royal tour
King Tuheitia was reportedly concerned that the visit at his official headquarters would not be long enough
New Zealand's Maori king has refused to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their baby Prince George during a royal tour next month, saying a proposed 90-minute slot would not allow enough time for the meeting.
John Key, New Zealand's prime minister, described the snub as "disappointing", saying the 90 minutes allocated by the royals to King Tuheitia was longer than any other scheduled engagement.
King Tuheitia was reportedly concerned that the visit at his official headquarters, the Turangawaewae marae, or meeting place, would not be long enough for official protocols to be carried out.
"I think it's a shame he's not going, but that was a decision solely made by King Tuheitia's people," Mr Key said.
"They were offered a 90-minute slot - that was longer than pretty much any other engagement they have. King Tuheitia's people decided that wasn't long enough and on that basis, they rejected him actually attending."
The meeting was due to take place at on the country's North Island at Turangawaewae, the official residence of the 58-year-old king, Tuheitia Paki, a former truck driver who became monarch in 2006.
King Tuheitia is descended from the first Maori King Potatau Te Wherowhero, who was appointed in 1858 by several North Island tribes which wanted a single figure as a unifying representative in dealings with the white settlers. The king is a non-hereditary position and has no constitutional role but is widely respected as a Maori leader and frequently receives international diplomats and official visitors.
Mr Key said King Tuheitia's advisors told officials at Kensington Palace that "if you can't make it longer than 90 minutes, then don't come".
"It's a matter for them to decide their own thing, but in the end [Prince William] has a fairly tight timetable," Mr Key said. "I would have thought [90 minutes] was quite generous."
The royal visit to New Zealand from April 7 to 16 will be the first public engagement for 8-month-old Prince George and will be the Duchess's first trip to New Zealand. The family will then visit Australia from April 16 to 25.