Kīngitanga

Kīngitanga is a term or name given to a movement based in Waikato. Established in the 1850s as a response to colonisation, the Kīngitanga was a way to stop land loss to colonists and maintain law and order while promoting traditional values and culture. While the strongest support comes from the people of Waikato-Tainui, there are a number of other iwi throughout the country that continue to support the Kīngitanga. The term in part acknowledges the anointment of the first Māori monarch who was a King, whose followers and supporters made up the original Kīngitanga.

Kuini Ngawai hono i te po Pootatau Te Wherowhero VIII

On 5 September 2024 Te Puhi Ariki Ngawai-hono-i-te-po Paki became the eighth Arikinui and second Māori Queen. Aged 27 she is the second youngest to take this mantle with her great-grandfather Kīngi Koroki being the youngest at 24.

She is the third child and only daughter of the Kīngi Tuheitia and Te Makau Ariki Atawhai.

A name symbolising unity

Her name was gifted by Julie Te Turi Rangainui (Ngāti Hauaroa, Tūwharetoa, Te Atihaunui ā Pāpārangi) at the request of her grandmother, Te Arikinui Kahurangi Te Atairangikāhu who was travelling on the Whanganui Tira Hoe at the time of her birth. Whaea Julie and Te Arikinui were good friends and were together when Te Arikinui got the good news of the birth of her mokopuna (granddaughter). After some discussion the name Ngawai hono i te po was bestowed on the child acknowledging the friendship of Whaea Julie and Te Arikinui through the symbolic coming together of the two great rivers Waikato and Whanganui. The name is also a symbol of unity, of Kotahitanga a legacy left to her by her father.

In 2024 prior to the death of her father, she performed with senior kapa haka Ngā Tūmanako at the Auckland 2024 Regional kapa haka competition qualifying for Te Matatini 2025. Both her father and grandmother as Te Arikinui were patrons of Te Matatini during their reigns.

Following her years at Te Wharekura o Rākaumangamanga, she went on to the University of Waikato where she gained a BA and a master’s degree in tikanga and te reo Māori. She is fluent and articulate in both Māori and English. Prior to her father’s death she was accorded a number of senior duties including meeting with then Prince Charles while in London with a deputation from the Kīngitanga.

Her first name is spelt with only a capital N and no macrons.

The mantle passes

On 30 August 2024 Kīngi Tuheitia Te Pōtatau Te Wherowhero te Tuawhitu passed away surrounded by his whānau (family) in Waikato-Tainui.

He was the seventh Māori monarch to have held the mantel of Te Arikinui that began six generations earlier with his four times great grandfather Pōtatau Te Wherowhero.

As is custom, his successor was selected and anointed on the morning before his burial. This ceremony is known as Te Whakawahinga – the raising up.

Like the coronation of the British monarchs, this Koroneihana is also full of symbolism and ceremony dating back many generations.

Tekau mā rua and the selection process

The first part of the Māori Ceremony is the selection of the new Arikinui which is undertaken by the advisors to the Kīngitanga known as the Tekau mā rua. Consisting of leaders from various tribes, except Tainui, they meet to discuss and confirm their decision during the last days of the tangihanga.

When Kīngitanga advisor, Rāhui Papa was asked what the role of Tainui is in the selection of the new Arikinui, he responded,

“It is not the place of Tainui to be part of the selection, that is left to the other iwi [of the Tekau-mā-Rua] to make that decision. Ours [Tainui] is to tend to and care for the new monarch whoever they may be.”

Succession of leadership in te ao Māori is not necessarily to the mātāmua (first born). While the mātāmua has their own status, the leadership of the whānau, hapū or Iwi might not rest on them.

Within te Ao Māori leadership is often bestowed on a person because of their deeds, skills and attributes. In te ao Māori there is always some form of rōpū that is charged with making this selection, but it is the people who will finally decide.

Ceremony

Again, like the coronation of the British monarch, ceremonial traditions are observed with the anointing of the new Arikinui.

On the morning of the uhunga (burial service) the proceedings start with a full haka pōhiri (ceremonial) welcome for the new Arikinui as they are ushered to the throne by the Tekau-mā-rua and Te Kāhui Wairua. Wearing the Kaitaka that belonged to the first Māori King Pōtatau Te Wherowhero in 1858 they take their place on the throne beside the casket of the old Arikinui surrounded by their whānau (family members).

A Kaitaka is a highly prized cloak made of prepared flax fibre with a tāniko ornamental boarder. This is a cherished heirloom and valued as much as the robes worn by King Charles at his coronation

Speeches are made during which those present are asked three times if they support and approve of the new Arikinui.

This is followed by the Karakia Whakawahinga where a bible is placed on the head of the new Arikinui. This is the same bible Tumuaki Wiremu Tāmihana used to raise up the first Māori King Pōtatau Te Wherowhero.

Following tikanga it is a descendant of Wiremu Tāmihana who conducts the Karakia Whakawahinga and thus the raising up of the bible from the head of the Arikinui is confirmation of their ascension.

The ceremony concludes with the tumuaki of Te Kāhui Wairua performing karakia to bless the Arikinui with sacred oils. Once Te Whakawahinga concludes then the uhunga (burial service) for the old Arikinui begins.

Listen in

Kaitakawaenga Maatakiwi Wakefield talks about Kīngitanga and Koroneihana in the October 2024 episode of So Many Stories.

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More about Koroneihana and Kīngitanga

Mana articles

Te Koroneihana from Mana: the Māori news magazine for all New Zealanders Jun/Jul 2006; 70:32-34
An article written Derek Fox describing the atmosphere at the 2006 coronation celebrations at Turangawaewae where more than 7000 people crammed the forecourt of the wharenui ‘Mahinaarangi’ to hear Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangi Kaahu give her address on the final day of Te Koroneihana.

Born to be Queen from Mana: the Māori news magazine for all New Zealanders Feb/Mar 2003; 5:45-55
An interview with Queen Te Atairangikaahu by Derek Fox. Pages 54-55 "The ways of our Tupuna" contains excerpts from two of her speeches.

Doing it for the motu from Mana: the Māori news magazine for all New Zealanders Feb/Mar 2003; 5:58-63
An interview with James Ritchie by Derek Fox. This interview outlines the history of the King Movement.

The Kingitanga from Mana: the Māori news magazine for all New Zealanders Feb/Mar 2003; 5:63-68.
Kīngitanga came into being in 1858, largely because Māori didn’t want to keep losing their lands. This is an account of the birth of Kīngitanga.

A journey through time from Mana: the Māori news magazine for all New Zealanders Jun/Jul 2001; 40:52-53
An excerpt from the speech made in May 2001 by Te Atairangikaahu at the 35th coronation anniversary celebrations.

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