Tūheitia Paki

Tūheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII KStJ GCCT KCLJ (born Tūheitia Paki; 21 April 1955), crowned as Kiingi Tūheitia, became the Māori King in New Zealand in 2006. He is the eldest son of the previous Māori monarch, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, and was announced as her successor and crowned on 21 August 2006, the day her tangihanga (funeral rites) took place.

Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII
Kīngi Tūheitia in 2019
Māori King
Reign21 August 2006 – present
Coronation21 August 2006
PredecessorTe Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu
Born (1955-04-21) 21 April 1955
Huntly, New Zealand
SpouseMakau Ariki Atawhai
IssueTe Ariki Tamaroa Whatumoana
Te Ariki Taituruki Korotangi
Puhi Ariki Ngawaihonoitepo
Full name
Tūheitia Paki
HouseTe Wherowhero
FatherWhatumoana Paki
MotherTe Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu

Family
Turongo House at Tūrangawaewae, the royal residence

King Tūheitia (born Tuheitia Paki) is the son of Whatumoana Paki and Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, who married in 1952. He was educated at Rakaumanga School in Huntly, Southwell School in Hamilton and St Stephen's College (Te Kura o Tipene) in Bombay, south of Auckland. He has five sisters and one brother: Heeni Katipa (née Paki); Tomairangi Paki; Mihi ki te ao Paki; Kiki Solomon (née Paki); Manawa Clarkson (née Paki), and brother Maharaia Paki.[1]

He is married to Makau Ariki (Royal Consort) Atawhai and they have three children: Whatumoana, Korotangi, and Ngawai Hono I Te Po.[2]

Following his ascent to the throne, the Makau Ariki was appointed patroness of the Māori Women's Welfare League in 2007[3] and Te Kohao Health,[4] a Māori public health organisation.

Duties and background
Tūheitia with Dame Patsy Reddy, Sir David Gascoigne, and the Makau Ariki at Tūrangawaewae for the Koroneihana celebrations of 2019

The King generally speaks publicly only once a year, at the annual celebrations in Ngāruawāhia of his coronation.[5] Since ascending to the throne his official duties have included attending the following events:

In May 2019, King Tuheitia and members of the Whare Ariki traveled to Italy where the King met Pope Francis in a Private Audience at the Vatican. The two met and discussed issues pertaining to Te Iwi Maori and indigenous peoples around the world. King Tuheitia also issued a formal invitation for the Pope to visit Turangawaewae Marae and Aotearoa.[12]

In 2018, to honour King Tuheitia and his leadership of the Kiingitanga, the General Synod of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, journeyed to Turangawaewae Marae to join with the multitudes in honouring the 160 years of this Monarchy.[13]

King Tuheitia attends hundreds of events every year both nationally and internationally. He is the Patron to several key organisations; including Te Matatini,[14] the largest Māori Cultural Festival in the world, Kirikiriroa Marae[4] a large urban Marae in Hamilton.

He frequently receives International dignitaries, foreign Diplomats, members of other Royal families and members of Governments.[15] In 2014 the King notably received 26 Diplomats[16] to discuss international and trade interests for the Kiingitanga.

Kiingi Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII meets Pope Francis (May 2019) in a Private Audience at the Vatican

In 2009 King Tuheitia visited the New Zealand Parliament and was acknowledged in the valedictory speech of the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark.[17] In the same year, the King accompanied Helen Clark to the United Nations upon her appointment as the United Nations Development Programme administrator.[18]

The King regularly attends significant events of Māoridom up and down the country. In July 2018, the King and Royal family attended the 150th Celebrations of the Ringatu Church; to which the King's eldest grandson, Hikairo, has been baptised.[19] The King also frequently attends the annual 25 January celebrations of the Ratana Church expressing his continued support for all denominations and his deep desire to unify the people.[20]

Poukai

The Poukai[21] is an annual series of visits by the Māori King to Marae around and beyond the Tainui region, a tradition that dates back to the 19th century. Poukai were established by the second Māori King, Tāwhiao, who said "Kua whakatūria e ahau tēnei kaupapa hei whāngai i te pouaru, te pani me te rawakore, he kuaha whānui kua puare ki te puna tangata me te puna kai". (I have instituted this gathering to feed the widowed, the bereaved and the destitute, it is a doorway that has been opened to the multitudes of people and the bounty of food.)[22]

There are 29 Poukai every year and King Tuheitia attends each one. Poukai are a critical event in the Kiingitanga calendar. A unique element of Poukai is their focus on: te pani (the bereaved), te pouaru (the widowed) and te rawakore (the destitute). These events, led by the current monarch, are put in place to assist and help ease the burdens and challenges faced by people.

Political advancements

King Tuheitia has been at the forefront of many political issues, particularly pertaining to Māori. In 2018 the King launched, in collaboration with the New Zealand Police and Ministry of Justice, the Iwi Justice Panel.[23] This approach to restorative justice aims to reduce incarceration rates among Māori, which are among the highest for an indigenous people in the world.

In 2017, King Tuheitia led a groundbreaking moment for the Kiingitanga by signing a formal Accord with the Ministry of Corrections, on behalf of the Government of New Zealand.[24] This award-winning[25] Accord led to the development of the Iwi Justice Panels, and also a further partnership venture with Corrections to build a reintegration Center for incarcerated women who gave birth to a child while in prison.[26] In an exclusive visit to a women's prison in Auckland, the King visited mothers and their children and pledged to do more for all incarcerated people.

In 2014 the King received a group from White Ribbon NZ who were travelling New Zealand promoting an anti-violence campaign.[27]

Tekau-ma-Rua and Te Kahui Wairua

In 2012 King Tuheitia formally established his Tekau-mā-Rua (the twelve, an advisory council);[28] each monarch has had a Tekau-mā-Rua to offer advice and act as a senior council within the Kiingitanga. He also added a spiritual council, called Te Kāhui Wairua. These two councils work together in providing advice, guidance and a strategic platform for the King and the Kiingitanga. For the first time for the Kiingitanga, King Tuheitia's Tekau-mā-Rua is made up of members from outside of the Waikato tribal region (the King's direct tribe).

Tekau-mā-Rua

As of 2020:

Member Karangatanga (representative area)
Rikirangi Gage (Chairperson) Te Whānau-ā-Apanui
Kihi Ngatai Tauranga Moana
Prof. Pou Temara Ngāi Tūhoe
Te Kahautu Maxwell Te Whakatohea
Sir Toby Curtis Te Arawa
Che Wilson Te Wainuiarua-Whanganui
Herewini Parata Ngāti Porou
Jerry Hapuku Ngāti Kahungunu
Wharehoka Wano Taranaki
(Vacant) Taitokerau
Mema Āpiti Companion Members
Prue Kapua Māori Women's Welfare League
Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi Te Kōhanga Reo
Sir Taihakurei Durie NZ Māori Council

Te Kāhui Wairua

As of 2020:

Member Karangatanga (Denomination)
Tumuaki Rev. Diana Tana (Chairperson) Te Hāhi Weteriana / The Methodist Church
Rev. Rex Nathan Te Hāhi Weteriana / The Methodist Church
Apotoro Takiwa Joe Everitt Te Hāhi Ratana / The Ratana Church
Rev. Wayne Te Kaawa Te Aka Puaho / The Presbyterian Church
Rev. Mahaki Albert Te Aka Puaho / The Presbyterian Church
(Vacant) Paimārire
Poutikanga Wirangi Pera Te Hāhi Ringatu / The Ringatu Church
Ven. Ngira Simmonds * Te Hāhi Mihinare / The Anglican Church
Rt. Rev'd Ngarahu Katene Te Hāhi Mihinare / The Anglican Church
(Vacant) Te Hāhi Katorika / The Catholic Church

*Archdeacon Simmonds is the Chaplain to the Kiingitanga and Private Chaplain to the King.

Honours

In 2009, King Tuheitia was appointed a Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John by Queen Elizabeth II,[29] and he was presented with the insignia for the honour by the governor-general, Sir Jerry Mateparae, in 2016 during the 10th anniversary commemorations of the King's coronation.[30] He was appointed to Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Tonga during the coronation ceremonies of King George Tupou V of Tonga. In 2010 he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lazarus.[31]

In 2016, in celebration of the King's 10th Coronation Anniversary, the mayor of Hamilton awarded him the city's highest honour, the Freedom of the City.[32] In the same year the King also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Waikato.[33]

References
  1. Tahana, Yvonne (24 September 2011). "Obituary: Whatumoana Paki". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  2. "Mahi". Website of the Kiingitanga. Office of the Kiingitanga. Archived from the original on 17 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  3. "Speech to the Maori Women's Welfare League National Conference – Rt Hon John Key". johnkey.co.nz. 2011. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  4. "Our History | Te Kohao Health". www.tekohaohealth.co.nz. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  5. Preston, Nikki (22 August 2011). "Maori King speaks of challenges". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  6. "Mauri Ora: Treasures from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa – Tokyo National Museum, Japan". Archived from the original on 5 September 2009.
  7. "Mauri Ora: Treasures from Museum of NZ in Japan | Scoop News".
  8. "New Zealands first Maori Garden opens to the public". scoop.co.nz. 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2011. As part of the Productive Garden Collection at Hamilton Gardens, Te Parapara was officially opened in 2008 by His Excellency Anand Satyanand and Te Arikinui Tuheitia Paki, the Maori King. However, December's unveiling will open an area housing a number of precious artisan carvings which were previously inaccessible to the public.
  9. Coney, Sandra. "New pou for Arataki visitor centre | Piha | Piha Beach | Piha New Zealand". www.piha.co.nz. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  10. Black, Taroi (6 May 2018). "King Tuheitia performs powerful haka". Māori Television. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  11. "Papal audience: Māori King invites Pope Francis to New Zealand". TVNZ. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  12. "The Māori King has met with Pope Francis in Rome". Stuff. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  13. "Anglican Taonga : New Zealand's Anglican News Leader". www.anglicantaonga.org.nz. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  14. "Patron". Te Matatini. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  15. "Jacinda Ardern meets with Maori King Tuheitia at Turangawaewae Marae". TVNZ. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  16. "Trade on the agenda at Turangawaewae". Stuff. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  17. "Clark, Helen: Valedictory Statement". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  18. Young, Audrey; Tahana, Yvonne (17 April 2009). "Maori King joins Clark's UN trip". ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  19. Kani, Shaan Te. "150 years of Ringatu Faith". gisborneherald.co.nz. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  20. "Ratana strengthens ties with Kingitanga". Māori Television. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  21. Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Poukai marae". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  22. Beau (12 December 2017). "Poukai 2018". Ngati Haua Iwi Trust. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  23. "King Tuheitia launches new Iwi Māori Panel". Māori Television. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  24. "Kiingitanga and Corrections unite to assist Māori offenders". Māori Television. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  25. "Corrections Department NZ – Partnership Award recognises Kiingitanga". www.corrections.govt.nz. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  26. "Māori King and Corrections to build centre for mothers". Radio New Zealand. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  27. "What an honour with King Tuheitia – with Sue Justsue, Dempsey Broad, David White, Rawiri Ma and Peter Kelly Porter". White Ribbon New Zealand. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  28. "Tekau-mā-rua waiting to be finalised". Māori Television. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  29. "Order of St John". The Gazette (59254). 27 November 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  30. "Kiingi Tuheitia coronation commemorations". gg.govt.nz. Office of the Governor-General of New Zealand. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  31. "Kiingi Tuheitia invested as Knight Commander". Scoop. 9 March 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  32. "Hamilton honours the Māori King". Newshub. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  33. [email protected] (8 September 2016). "King Tuheitia receives an honorary doctorate". www.waikato.ac.nz. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
Māori royalty
Preceded by
Te Atairangikaahu		 Māori monarch
2006–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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