Photo source: NBC News
In a deeply emotional ceremony attended by thousands at Turangawaewae Marae, the youngest child and only daughter of the late Māori king Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has ascended to the throne.
The event took place on the final day of a week-long tangihanga (funeral), where the Māori community gathered to honour their late king and welcome a new leader.
The New Queen
Ngā Wai hono i te po Paki, aged 27, was revealed as the new queen on the final day of her father’s six-day tangihanga. She holds a master’s degree in Māori cultural studies from Waikato University and has been closely involved in her father’s activities over the years.
During the Te Whakawahinga (raising up) ceremony in Ngāruawāhia, she was presented the throne by the Kīngitanga advisory council, composed of 12 elders from various iwi. The selection process puts an emphasis on the fact that the role is not automatically inherited as the late Kīngi Tūheitia had two sons. The new queen was anointed with sacred oils and blessed with the Bible used to crown the first Māori king in 1858.
Māori leaders and community members expressed joy and hope at the crowning. “We follow the tikanga of our ancestors who created the Kīngitanga to unify and uplift our people,” said Che Wilson, chairman of Tekau-mā-rua.
The Role of the Kīngitanga
The ceremony serves as a new chapter for the Kīngitanga movement in New Zealand. The movement was established in 1858 as a response to colonisation, with the aim of preserving Māori culture and land. Its monarchy, while largely ceremonial, plays a crucial role in uniting various iwi and advocating for Māori rights.
The Kīngitanga has increasingly united Māori communities against policies perceived as a rollback of Māori rights. Kīngi Tūheitia had initiated nationwide meetings to protest these changes, and his legacy continues through his daughter.
Vision for the Future
As the new queen, Ngā Wai hono i te po Paki envisions a vibrant future for the Māori community, focusing attention on the importance of cultural preservation and unity. She will promote and uphold Māori traditions, customs, and language, ensuring these vital aspects of identity thrive.
Her role as an advocate for Māori rights will be crucial in addressing social justice issues, while her commitment to educational initiatives will help instil a strong sense of cultural pride in younger generations.
In addition to her cultural and advocacy efforts, the queen will serve as a mentor for emerging Māori leaders, as well as encourage youth participation in both cultural and political spheres.
Representing the Māori community at national and international events, she will act as an ambassador for Māori culture and issues. Her spiritual responsibilities will involve participating in rituals that reinforce the connection to land and ancestors.
Ngā Wai hono i te po Paki aims to lead the Māori community into a new era of hope, resilience, and progress, by continuing the legacy of her predecessors, particularly her father, Kīngi Tūheitia.