Ngaruawahia – August 2024. The Hon Consul General of the Tonga to Portugal Anthony Bailey expresses his profound sadness at the announcement of the passing of His Majesty King Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII who was elected Maori monarch in 2006.
The late King enjoyed a very long and warm relationship with successive Tongan monarchs. The Maori King and Queen attended the Coronation of His Majesty King Tupou VI of Tonga in 2015 and the 60th Birthday celebrations of King Tupou VI in Nuku’alofa in July 2019. The Tongan monarchs have been regular visitors to the Maori King and Queen in Aotearoa-New Zealand and the two dynasties maintain very close ties.
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, died at the age of 69 following complications from heart surgery. His death marked the end of an 18-year reign characterised by steadfast advocacy for Māori unity and rights and huge crowds attended funeral events.
The tangihanga (traditional Māori funeral) commenced on 31 August 2024 at Tūrangawaewā Marae in Ngāruawāhia in the heart of the Kīngitanga movement. Over five days, the marae became a focal point for mourning, drawing tens of thousands of attendees, including dignitaries, iwi (tribal) representatives, and members of the public.
The proceedings began on 31 August with a pōwhiri (welcoming ceremony) for members of the Tainui confederation, the king’s iwi. Attendees, adhering to Waikato Tainui tikanga (customs), wore black, with women donning pare kawakawa (mourning headdresses made from kawakawa leaves). New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who had just returned from the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, led a government delegation to pay respects. On 1 September 2024, New Zealand Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro attended alongside representatives from various iwi and the Rātana Church.
A political pōwhiri was held on 4 September, with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters leading a delegation comprising Members of Parliament from multiple political parties, including National, ACT, New Zealand First, Labour, and the Greens. This gathering underscored the late king’s significant impact across New Zealand’s political spectrum.
On 5 September, the final day of the tangihanga, the king’s daughter, Ngā Wai Hono i Te Pō, was enthroned as the new Māori monarch, making her the second female to ascend the throne in the movement’s history. Following her coronation, Kiingi Tuheitia’s body was transported via the Waikato River to Mount Taupiri, the sacred burial site for Māori royalty, where he was interred in a private ceremony.
Tonga’s Royal Family was strongly represented at the funeral, with His Majesty King Tupou VI, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Sinaitakala, Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Ofeina, and His Royal Highness Prince Ata attending to pay their respects. Their presence underscored the deep historical relationship between the Māori and Tongan Royal Families. In addition, global leaders paid tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia’s legacy. King Charles III of New Zealand expressed deep condolences, acknowledging the late king’s dedication to Māori culture and his influential leadership. Tongan Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni and Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka also conveyed their sympathies, reflecting the late king’s esteemed status across the region.
The extensive attendance and heartfelt tributes during the tangihanga underscored Kiingi Tuheitia’s profound impact on Māori society and the broader New Zealand community. His commitment to indigenous rights and cultural preservation leaves an enduring legacy as the Kīngitanga embarks on a new chapter under Queen Ngā Wai Hono i Te Pō.
The Kīngitanga (Māori King movement) is also one of Aotearoa-New Zealand’s oldest surviving political institutions, founded in 1858. The Māori monarchy continues to operate today as an enduring expression of Māori unity. It also plays an important cultural and social role in Māori communities and the wider Aotearoa-New Zealand identity. It is hoped that the new Maori Queen, a Roman Catholic, will visit Portugal in the near future and visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima as His late Majesty had discussed with the Hon Consul General during their meeting in July 2024.
