New Māori Queen Anointed In New Zealand
New Zealand has a new Māori Queen, Nga Wai Hono i te Po, who was anointed following the death of her father, King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII.
The 27-year-old queen took on the role after her father's passing last week, in a ceremony attended by thousands of people at Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia. The new queen, the youngest child and only daughter of the late king, was chosen by a council of Māori chiefs.
Her father’s death at the age of 69, following heart surgery, marked the end of his 18-year reign. His coffin was transported via a flotilla of traditional waka (canoes) to Mount Taupiri, where he was buried in an unmarked grave, alongside other royal ancestors.
In the anointment ceremony, a bible dating back to 1858 was placed on the queen’s head, and sacred oils were used to signify her new position. The event was filled with traditional Māori customs, including haka performances and chants, as the new monarch took her place as the eighth leader of the Kingitanga, or Māori royalty movement.
Although the role of the Māori monarch is largely ceremonial, the position holds significant cultural weight. The Kingitanga was established in the 19th century to unite Māori tribes against the forced sale of land and to protect Māori language and culture. The new queen has already been seen as a symbol of renewal for the movement, with many hopeful she will inspire younger generations of Māori.
Queen Nga Wai Hono i te Po is not the first Māori queen; her grandmother, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, held the title before her. The new queen holds a Master’s degree in Māori cultural studies and has served on several boards, including the Te Kohanga Reo National Trust, which is dedicated to revitalising the Māori language.
Her rise to the throne comes during a time of tension in New Zealand, with the centre-right government rolling back policies that had advanced Māori rights and the official use of the Māori language.
These changes have caused concern within Māori communities, and King Tuheitia had taken a strong stance against the government’s actions before his death. Earlier this year, he held a national gathering of Māori tribes to discuss how to respond to these challenges.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon welcomed the new queen’s appointment, stating that her father had left a lasting legacy with his commitment to Māori and New Zealanders as a whole. However, Luxon’s government has faced criticism for its policies, which some view as undermining Māori rights.
As the country mourns the passing of King Tuheitia, all eyes are on the new queen. Her leadership could play a crucial role in how Māori communities navigate the political and cultural challenges they currently face.
