Queen Elizabeth's death: Marama Davidson uses tribute to speak of monarchy's colonialist legacy

New Zealand's politicians have paid their respects to the Queen, most admiring her service, worth ethic, and sense of duty.

But Greens co-leader Marama Davidson used the opportunity to hold the monarchy to account for its colonialist legacy.

Mostly dressed in black and in muted tones, politicians paid tribute to the Queen.

"She was quite simply an extraordinary woman who was of her time, and now in her passing, was for all time," said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

"I rise on behalf of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition and yes, that pronoun still feels unfamiliar," said Leader of the Opposition Christopher Luxon. 

"I did wonder if perhaps she was holding on until her country was safe from Boris Johnson," said ACT leader David Seymour.

"The question of what her service was in aid of is certainly a legitimate one, and yes, a question for this very time," said Greens co-leader Marama Davidson.

For Davidson, the Queen's memory and legacy is complicated. 

"We cannot ignore the oppression of Maori as very real and continuing," she said. 

The Queen, Davidson said, was never ignorant to that.

"For example her well-known utterance about the Treaty of Waitangi being 'imperfectly observed', in her words, she knew what she was a part of."

The irony was not lost on Davidson that mourning a monarch suppressed plans for Te Wiki o Te Reo.

"I am today still doing the work to reclaim my own native tongue," said Davidson.

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi told the House: "The righteous anger of indigenous peoples all over the world. I take those stories as stories I carry with me."

But Waititi said now is not the time. 

"Our tikanga is clear we must give people time for whanau to grieve their losses.

With Parliament adjourned out of respect, the Prime Minister will fly to the United Kingdom tomorrow for the Queen's funeral. Also among the delegation are Kiingi Tūheitia, Willie Apiata, Dame Silvia Cartwright and Sir Tipene O'Regan.

The Prime Minister said the broad representation is a testament to the Queen's long relationship with Aotearoa.