The bond between the British monarchy and Māori has been a rocky one but nonetheless, tributes are flowing among Māori dignitaries for the Queen, who held a special bond with the Māori King's mother, the late Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
The year of 1953 was the first time the Queen of England would meet a young Princess Piki, the daughter of then-Māori King Korokī Mahuta at Turangawaewae Marae, home of the Kīngitanga movement.
The Queen and Duke were meant to only stop briefly outside the marae to acknowledge Māori there but instead, the visiting royals accepted an impromptu invitation to a cuppa from the young Māori princess, who escorted them onto the marae to applause.
The bond forged that day deepened when 13 years later Princess Piki became Te Atairangikaahu - the Māori Queen.
During her 40-year reign, Dame Te Atairangikaahu met Queen Elizabeth many times.
One of the most memorable was when Queen Elizabeth formally apologised on behalf of the Crown to Māori with the Waikato-Tainui iwi in 1995. And where she personally signed into law the Waikato Raupatu Settlement Act 1995 - the only New Zealand legislation given Royal Assent in person by the Queen.
"Having Queen Elizabeth apologise in person to Queen Te Atairangikaahu, I think demonstrates how that Queen-to-Queen relationship forged the history, the relationship of our nation. That is the example that we seek to hope for here in the Kīngitanga," Kīngitanga spokesperson Ngira Simmonds said.
Ngāi Tahu leader Sir Tipene O'Regan was among many in Māoridom paying tribute to her legacy today.
"I met her on I think four occasions and she always impressed me with her knowledge and the level towards she was switched on to the realities and politically and constitutionally of our country," he said.
He believes that has been passed down.
"She was a pretty impressive intellect and that's true also in my view of her children that I've engaged with over the years and in particular our new King."
At Waitangi, the guardians of the Treaty grounds were also remembering her Majesty on Friday.
"She's got a really strong relationship with the Waitangi National Trust and the people of Tai Tokerau so it has taken us by surprise. It shouldn't of taken us by surprise but we are really sad to hear of her passing," Waitangi National Trust board chair Pita Tipene said.
It's not just the old guard of the Māori world paying their respects but rangatahi as well.
Otene Hopa was part of Ngāti Rānana who the Queen invited to open the Commonwealth Service in 2018.
"We did it in a Māori way. I tuku i te reo karanga, i te reo pōwhiri," Hopa said.
The chilling performance receiving the Royal approval.
"It was a 'thank you very much for being in attendance and for representing Aotearoa New Zealand, enjoyed the singing as always'," Hopa said.
A connection between Māori and the Crown many hope will endure even as they mourn together.
