A new Māori queen has been inaugurated as the eighth monarch of the Māori people in New Zealand, following the passing of her father, Kiingi Tuheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII.
At just 27 years old, Ngā Wai hono i te pō has been selected as kuini the Māori term for queen by a council of indigenous Māori chiefs in a significant ceremony held on the North Island.
She succeeds her grandmother, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, as the second Māori queen in history.
Ngā Wai hono i te pō is the youngest daughter of Kiingi Tuheitia, who passed away last Friday at 69 years old.
The announcement of the new queen took place at Tūrangawaewae Marae, the heart of the Kiingitanga or Māori king movement, where she was seated on a carved wooden throne.
During the ceremony, she was blessed with the same Bible used to anoint the first Māori king in 1858.
In front of her father’s coffin, she wore a wreath and cloak as prayers and chants were conducted before his burial.
Kiingi Tuheitia, who had been in recovery from heart surgery, was honored with an elaborate ceremony that included a flotilla of war canoes transporting his body along the Waikato River to Mount Taupiri, a sacred site for the Māori, where he was laid to rest.
This transition to Ngā Wai hono i te pō represents a generational change and is seen as a symbol of renewal for the Māori community.
The new queen, who holds a master’s degree in Māori cultural studies and teaches kapa haka (Māori performing arts), is expected to bring a fresh perspective to her role.
The funeral ceremonies were accompanied by haka performances and an emotional farewell.
Although Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who has faced criticism for his government’s policies perceived as anti-Māori, was unable to attend due to an official trip to South Korea, he praised Kiingi Tuheitia as a leader who had made a significant impact across New Zealand.
Opposition leader Chris Hipkins also expressed his condolences, highlighting the king’s unifying role and sense of humor.
Kiingi Tuheitia’s official mourning period was extended to seven days to accommodate the numerous delegations that came to pay their respects.
The loss of the king is particularly poignant given the current political climate and debates over Māori rights.
The Māori monarchy, established in the 19th century to unite Māori tribes and protect their land and culture, continues to play a largely ceremonial role in New Zealand’s political and cultural landscape.
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