Rewritten Article:
Maori Monarch Tuheitia Bids Farewell at 69
New Zealand's Maori King, Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero, has taken his final bow. After an 18-year reign, he peacefully slipped away from this world surrounded by family following a heart surgery in a hospital, as per his office's announcement. At 69, Tuheitia had been wrestling with health issues such as diabetes for several years.
Serving as the seventh Maori King, Tuheitia inherited the throne from his late mother, Te Arikinui, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, who reigned for 40 years. The "Kiingitanga" (Maori Kingship) movement, established in 1958 to unify the Maori people under a single leader, started this rich lineage.
On a state level, Maori Kings may lack power, but they hold a significant symbolic and cultural influence, uniting various Maori tribes and exerting a strong national influence. Their primary role is to protect and uphold the rights of the indigenous population.
Currently, over 900,000 Maori reside in New Zealand, making up more than 17% of the population. Stamping the sentiment, "A Chief Has Passed," the Ministry of Culture and Heritage ordered that flags on all public buildings be flown at half-mast "as a symbol of deepest mourning and respect."
King Charles III Mourns the Loss
New Zealand's Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, spoke of Tuheitia's "unyielding dedication," whose impact on New Zealand will eternally endure. King Charles III also offered his "heartfelt condolences" at the monarch's demise in this Commonwealth country. "I had the privilege of knowing Kiingi Tuheitia for decades," he wrote in a statement.
The Monarch was driven by a passion for constructing a prosperous future for the Maori and New Zealand, grounded in culture, traditions, and healing, which he accomplished with wisdom and compassion. Tuheitia attended Charles' coronation in London in May 2023. Tuheitia's remains will be held at his residence for several days before being laid to rest at his final resting place, the sacred Taupiri Mountain, about 100 kilometers south of Auckland on New Zealand's North Island.
Here, he will rest in peace beside his mother. Reports indicate that the funeral is expected to occur on the following Thursday. The Mountain holds profound spiritual significance, with its slopes often used for burials. Traditionally, tens of thousands of individuals attend such funerals. Notable figures from across the Pacific Region are also anticipated to pay their respects. It remains unclear who will replace Tuheitia. He leaves behind his wife and two sons and a daughter. The position of Maori King is not inherited, but rather, a new monarch is chosen by the leaders of the associated tribes in the Kiingitanga on the day of the funeral.
Interestingly, the successor to Māori King Tuheitia, Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō, was announced by the Tekau-ma-Rua as the next monarch on 5 September 2024, the last day of his tangi. This makes her the second queen of the Kīngitanga, following her grandmother Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
The process for choosing a new monarch in the Māori Kingship, also known as the Kīngitanga, involves the following steps:
- Selection by Tekau-ma-Rua: The Tekau-ma-Rua, a group of leaders from various Māori iwi (except Tainui), meet to discuss and confirm the decision for the new Arikinui (monarch) during the last days of the tangihanga (funeral rites).
- Ceremonial Anointing: The new Arikinui is anointed on the morning before the burial, a ceremony known as Te Whakawahinga – the raising up. This includes a full haka pōhiri (ceremonial welcome) and the wearing of a Kaitaka, a highly prized cloak made of prepared flax fibre with a tāniko ornamental border.
- Confirmation by Chiefs: The new monarch is confirmed by speeches during which those present are asked three times if they support and approve of the new Arikinui.
In practice, every new monarch in the Maori Kingship has been a child of the previous monarch, descending from Pōtatau Te Wherowhero to the present Māori queen.
The monarchy in New Zealand, specifically the Maori King, plays a symbolic and cultural role, uniting various Maori tribes and exerting national influence. Tuheitia, the recently departed monarch, was successful in his mission to build a prosperous future for the Maori and New Zealand, based on culture, traditions, and healing.
Although King Charles III does not hold political power over the Maori King, he expressed his deep sorrow upon Tuheitia's passing, acknowledging their shared history and mutual respect.
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