New Zealand’s Maori Tribe Crowned New Queen Following Father’s Passing

Photo : AFP

New Zealand — On Thursday, twenty-seven-year-old Nga Wai Hono I Te Po was formally anointed as the new Maori monarch, succeeding her late father, King Kiingi Tuheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII. The ceremony took place on New Zealand's North Island, conducted by a council of Indigenous Māori chiefs.

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Nga Wai’s ascension marks her as the second-ever Maori queen in the Kingitanga movement’s history. Her father, King Tuheitia, passed away last week at the age of 69 following heart surgery.

The traditional ceremony, Te Whakawahinga, coincided with the tangihanga (funeral and burial) of the late king. Archbishop Don Tamihere placed a historic bible, in use since 1858, on Nga Wai’s head and anointed her with holy oils, signifying her new role with dignity, sacredness, and spiritual essence.

Thousands gathered at Turangawaewae, the traditional meeting place of the Kingitanga movement, to pay their respects. After the ceremony, the late king’s coffin was transported by hearse to the Waikato River, then floated in traditional Maori waka (canoes) to Taupiri Mountain for burial alongside other members of the Māori royalty.

The Kingitanga monarchy was established in 1858 to resist colonisation and protect Māori culture and land. Although the role is largely ceremonial, the Maori monarch is considered the supreme chief by many tribes.

Nga Wai holds a master's degree in Māori cultural studies from Waikato University and has served on several boards, including the Te Kohanga Reo National Trust, which focuses on revitalizing the Māori language.

Her anointment comes amid strained racial relations in New Zealand. The current centre-right government has been criticized for rolling back policies from the previous administration that supported the Māori language and improved living conditions and rights for Indigenous people.

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