Former Prime Minister Henry Puna and the late Kiingi Tūheitia at the signing of a Kawenata/Koreromotu between Te Kiingitanga and the Cook Islands Government in 2015. Photo credit: Office of the Prime Minister, Cook Islands Government.
Pasifika TV Media Release
September 04, 2024
Pasifika acknowledge the passing of the late Kiingi Tūheitia
Leaders and representatives from across Te Moana Nui ā Kiwa are among the mourners who have descended on Ngāruawāhia – the seat of the Māori king movement – and Tuurangawaewae Marae to pay their respects to the late Te Kiingi Tūheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII.
Kiingi Tūheitia passed away in the early hours of Friday (August 30, 2024) morning, aged 69.
His death comes just months after he issued a rare royal proclamation for Māori to rally in unity against proposed amendments to crown policies, reigniting hope in a tumultuous time for indigenous rights.
And in the week prior to his death, he had marked 18 years on the throne during the annual Koroneihana celebrations.
Among contingents from the Pacific who have visited Tuurangawaewae since Te Kiingi Tuhetia passed were delegations from French Polynesia and the Cook Islands.
The Cook Islands delegation visited yesterday, led by Prime Minister Mark Brown, former Prime Minister Henry Puna, President of the House of Ariki, Tou Travel Ariki, Pa Ariki of Te Vaka Takitumu, representatives of the Religious Advisory Council and community leaders from across the pa enua of the Cook Islands and diaspora communities across Aotearoa.
The Cook Islands delegation at Tuurangawaewae. Photo credit: Office of the Prime Minister, Cook Islands Government.
At Tuurangawaewae yesterday, Prime Minister Mark Brown has paid tribute to Kiingi Tūheitia’s leadership in forging a rejuvenation of genealogical ties between Māori of Te Kiingitanga and of Te Kuki Airani through the signing of a Kawenata/Koreromotu between Te Kiingitanga and the Cook Islands Government in 2015.
The Kawenata has brought to fruition several initiatives, supported by visit exchanges with Te Kiingi leading delegation visits to Rarotonga and Aitutaki and Cook Islands traditional leaders and official delegations visits to Ngāruawāhia.
Initiatives have included the revival of language, culture, craft and most recently during Te Kiingi’s visit in March, the siging of Te Whakaputanga Moana by Tou Ariki and Kiingi Tūheitia aimed at granting the to’ora (whales) legal personhood.
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown at the tangihanga of Kiingi Tūheitia. Photo credit: Kiingitanga.
Prime Minister Brown says of Kiingi Tuheitia, “Ko taku ka maara ua rai i Te Kiingi Tuheitia – e tangata vaerua ta’aka’aka, e tangata vaerua maru, tei irinaki pakari e me taokotai tatou iti tangata Maori, iti tangata o Te Moana Nui a Kiva, te tangata whenua o Aotearoa e to te ao katoa, ka rangatira ta tatou tamariki no te au tuatau ki mua.
“Kua moe Te Kiingi Tuheita – kia tatou e vai – ka tu, e ara, ka rave!”
“I remember Te Kiingi as a humble softly spoken man, whose mana came to the fore in our exchanges and his conviction that if we Māori of Aotearoa, te Kuki Airania e Te Moana Nui a Kiva hold firm to our values and work together, our children will prosper.
“That is the challenge for all of us – Te Kiingi is at rest – we must stand, we must toil, we must work together so our people prosper!”
Māori of Tahiti also visited Tuurangawaewae to pay their respects, their delegation led by the President of French Polynesia Moetai Brotherson, who through his wife have familiar ties with Māori of Te Kuki Airani and Aotearoa New Zealand.
On Thursday, Kiingi Tūheitia will be laid to rest alongside his mother Dame Te Atairangikaahu and previous Māori kings on the sacred Taupiri maunga.
Known as, Taupiri-Kuao – the embracing mountain – the mountain is sacred to Waikato-Tainui and their tribal identity, and it is the final resting place for the Māori Royal Family and other prominent Māori.
Meanwhile, the King’s Council has started discussions with iwi leaders in private to discuss who will be Kiingi Tuheitia’s successor.
The monarch elect will then be informed of the decision in private, before a public announcement is made before the burial of Kiingi Tūheitia.
On behalf of Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL) Chief Executive Natasha Meleisea has acknowledged the late king and his contributions to Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific.
“Kua hinga he tōtara i Te Waonui-a-Tane.
“Highly respected beyond the shores of Aotearoa into Te Moana nui a Kiwa, Kiingi Tūheitia embodied the principles of servant leadership, reciprocity and advocacy for protecting language and culture.
“We not only mourn a son of Tainui, a son of Aotearoa, but also a son of Te Moana Nui a Kiwa. Manuia lau malaga.”
Pasifika TV will enable the Pacific to screen the LIVE broadcast of Te Whakawahinga (raising up) ceremony for the monarchical successor and the tangi of Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, via Whakaata Maori.
Ends
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