Tributes pour in after the passing of New Zealand’s Maori Kingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII.
New Zealand is mourning the loss of Maori Kingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, who passed away at the age of 69 in hospital after undergoing heart surgery. The king, a significant figure for the country’s Indigenous Maori people, had been celebrating the 18th anniversary of his coronation just days before his death.
The Kiingitanga movement, aimed at uniting New Zealand’s Indigenous Maori, was established in 1858, and although the king’s position holds political and symbolic value, it does not have legal status. The upcoming funeral for King Tuheitia is expected to be a momentous event, with plans to bury him next to his mother, Queen Dame Te Atairangikaahu, on the revered Taupiri Mountain.
As tributes pour in for the late king, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed his condolences, highlighting King Tuheitia’s dedication to his people, culture, and vision for equality and respect for all. The next Maori king is likely to be chosen by tribal leaders associated with the Kiingitanga following the funeral rites.
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