Kiingi Tuheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII, the Māori King of New Zealand, has passed away at the age of 69. He died surrounded by his wife and three children after a period of recovery in the hospital following heart surgery.
The news was announced by the Kiingitanga, the Māori king movement, on Friday morning local time (Thursday evening GMT).
Rahui Papa, a spokesman for the Kiingitanga, expressed the profound grief felt across the nation.
“The passing of Kiingi Tuheitia is a moment of deep sorrow for followers of Te Kiingitanga, Māoridom, and the entire nation.
A chief has journeyed to the great beyond. Rest in love,” he said.Born Tūheitia Paki in 1955, King Tuheitia was crowned in 2006 after the death of his mother, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu. During his reign, he was seen as a unifying figure and recently called for Māori unity against policies targeting their community.
“In this storm, we are strong—together.
The wind in our sails is kotahitanga [unity], and with that, we will reach our destination,” he said, emphasizing the importance of unity.
The successor to King Tuheitia will be chosen by leaders within the Kiingitanga, though the announcement may not come until after his funeral rites are completed. It is expected that the king will lie in state at Turangawaewae Marae, the seat of the Māori king, for five days before being laid to rest on Taupiri Mountain.
The role of the Māori king dates back to 1858, when Māori leaders established the position as a unifying figure akin to a European monarch.
This largely ceremonial role was created to prevent the loss of Māori land to British colonizers and to preserve Māori culture.New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, paid tribute to the king on social media, stating,
“His unwavering commitment to his people and his tireless efforts to uphold the values and traditions of the Kiingitanga have left an indelible mark on our nation.
“Former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern also offered her respects, saying, “You have been an advocate for Māori, for fairness, justice, and prosperity.
You wanted children, young people, and those who have been left behind to have opportunities and hope.
“King Tuheitia was recognized internationally, attending King Charles III’s coronation in May 2023 and meeting the British monarch privately before the event.
King Charles expressed his condolences, stating that he and Queen Camilla were “profoundly saddened” by the news.
“He was deeply committed to forging a strong future for Māori and Aotearoa New Zealand, founded upon culture, traditions, and healing, which he carried out with wisdom and compassion,” said King Charles, adding in Māori,
“Kua hinga te tōtara i Te Waonui a Tāne” (A mighty Totara tree has fallen), referencing a sacred and symbolic native New Zealand tree.In 2014, King Tuheitia made headlines when he declined to meet Prince William and Princess Kate during their tour of New Zealand, citing that the 60 to 90 minutes allocated for the visit was insufficient to properly honor the cultural customs befitting their status.
