R.I.P to New Zealand

  The world was shocked by the news of the death of the Maori King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII. RIP to the deceased and all the mourners.

Condolences to all our Maori friends.  May he rest in peace.

A significant member of the world's indigenous community has just passed on.

Thanks, but his leadership was more symbolic. We are worried as the next “king” will either be a idiot son who has been in and out of trouble with the law or an angry wahine (Woman) connected to Te Pati Maori (A radical Maori political party that only 12% of Maori voters support). They are behind the backlash from non Maori New Zealanders. Everytime they say or do something, they get a really angry backlash.

I say this, as the Kingitanga (What they call this institution) was politically neutral until Tuheitia declared his support for TPM.

Kingitangi started in 1858 as a response to European land enroachment and as a force of resistance to Pakeha (White people) stealing or buying Maori land at low prices. They started it, so Maori could fight under a unified banner against colonialism (Previously there had been intercenine warfare between opposing “tribes”. Until 1901 they controlled a large swathe of the North Island called “Te Rohe potae” in which no Pakeha could settle or buy land.

Problem was only half of the Maori tribes supported them, and to this day many tribes (iwi) do not support Kingitanga - mine included. However the separatism ended long ago and now its about collaboration with the Maori king being close friends with our government and the British royal family (Tuheitia last spoke to King Charles a few weeks ago). This king who passed was pretty good, he made friends and called for unity amongst all Polynesian peoples and was close to Tongan royalty.

There have been seven Maori monarchs - all were high ranking chiefs (mana wahine in the case of Dame Te Arikiraangikahu) in their own right (Ariki)

1. Potatau Te Wherowhero I (1858 - 1860) - an elderly Tainui/Waikato chief whose reign was peaceful mostly - but at a height of increasing tensions with Pakeha settlers. Real power existed with Rewi Maniapoto and Wiremu Tamihana (The Kingmaker). At the Tangi (Funerals) of Maori kings, all the portraits of previous rulers are shown above the body, his is first and he appears to have a large afro shaped hair do. No photos exist of him, just painted portraits and drawings.

2. King Tawhiao II (1860 - 1894) - Probably the greatest known and most powerful of the Kings, he ruled over Te Rohe Potae and was the leader in the Land Wars of 1860 - 1872 and was present during the invasion of the Waikato 1863/64 (Where some of the most brutal fighting of the 19th century took place, although many say Pakeha won - it was a stalemate, many Pakeha died and huge chunks of Te Rohe Potae remained in Kingtangi hands until the 1900s)

  King Tawhiao also appeared on BNZ notes of 1923 onwards and 1930s Reserve bank notes.

3. King Mahuta Tawhiao III (1894 - 1912) - Things quited down, Te Rohe Potae was broken up and towns and the railway were pushed through it. He was more conciliatory and friends with the Premier - Richard Seddon.

4. King Te Rata  IV (1912 - 1933) - As above they were ceremonial and collaborative rulers now. In this reign the great meeting houses and royal complexes at Ngaruawahia were built and these survive to this day. This was the era of the Young Maori leaders and the work of Te Puea Herangi (Princess Te Puea).

5. King Koroki V (1933 - 1966) - In his reign, many Maori moved to the cities and this is considered the low point for Maori, as their language was suppressed and culture was dying, assimilation was in full effect. However he was a good king and well respected by everyone. His daughter was primed to be the first “Kuini” - Queen.

6. Dame Te Arikiraangikahu VI (1966 - 2006) - She ascended the throne in her 20s and was a very popular queen beloved by most New Zealanders. The Maori revival began under here, the language (Te Reo Maori) saw a revival and she was behind (Kohanga Reo) language nests were Maori children learnt Te Reo from kindergarten. She was also about conciliation and its the era of Treaty settlements and beginning of Maori Tribal authorities and resurgence. She was made a dame of the British commonwealth too.

7. King Tuheitia te Paki VII (2006 - 2024) - Ascended the throne at 50 and was not very well, he has had several health scares and died at 69. A very well respected ruler and known for his skills of reconciliation and fostering cultural revival and pride especially amongst the young. He was deeply concerned with issues affecting Maori people, especially the racist and insulting behaviour of this populist right wing government since 2023. The King was known for his interest in social issues and even had a Covid shot in aims of encouraging more Maori to do so. However there was controversy, his children have got into trouble and his oldest son lost his title an now they are deciding who will be Kingi VIII. The crown prince is Korotangi Paki, but likely he may lost the throne to a sister.

The King was buried in full honours yesterday on sacred Taupiri mountain, next to his parents and ancestors. The ceremony featured the crowning of the new kuini Ngawai hono te po (Aged 27) and the procession of the late king's body by waka from the Turangawaewae marae/royal precinct to the urupa (Burial ground) in a fleet or ornately decorated canoes (Wakas) with Maori protocol and many in traditional garments performing traditional songs and dances.

Maori Pageantry at its finest. The new Queen is 27 and youngest daughter of the late king. She is well educated and has a background in Maori cultural arts and should be a very good representative for Kingitanga.

One can read about her new majesty here (No paywalls or cookie pop ups hopefully).

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/527108/the-new-maori-queen-kuini-nga-wai-hono-i-te-po-27-to-succeed-her-father-kiingi-tuheitia-as-maori-monarch