Open Writing

The unprecedented outpouring of grief from both Maori and Pakeha (Europeans) at the recent death of the Maori Queen Dame Te Atairangikaahu will long be remembered as a momentous occasion in the history of New Zealand.

It is estimated 100,000 mourners travelled to Ngaruawhaia to pay their respects to Dame Te Ata in the biggest tangi this generation of New Zealanders is likely to see. Mourners included delegations from Maori tribes throughout New Zealand, the Governor General, past and present members of parliament, Tongan Princess Pilolevu and representatives from the armed services.

Speaking on the marae (community meeting place) the New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark said,” A mighty Kauri has fallen.” She described Dame Te Ata as a woman of dignity, humility, humour and warmth who achieved a tremendous amount for Maoridom and New Zealand.

Born Princess Piki Mahuta, Dame Te Ata became Maori Queen in 1966 after the death of her father, King Koroki. Her succession to the position of sovereign of Maori allowed her to entertain such distinguished guests as Queen Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela, and Prince Fumihito of Japan, onto the Turangawaewae marae at Ngaruawhahia, where she lived. She is survived by her husband Whatumoana Paki their two sons and five daughters.
Her 40 year reign made her the longest serving head of the Maori Kingitanga movement.
In Maori culture the funeral rites accorded to a person before their interment is called a tangi. Maori believe the deceased should not be left alone at any stage after death. The body is taken to the marae (community gathering place) where it lies in an open casket in the company of family and friends until burial. Speeches are made directly to the deceased in the belief the spirit does not leave the vicinity of the body until burial.
During the 7 day tangi for DameTe Ata she lay in state outside the meeting house on the Turangawaewae marae in a glass topped casket draped with a revered feather cloak. Fifteen black-clad women and grandchildren sat on the ground alongside her. In an unprecedented move the Prime Minister was invited to join them. The entrance to the meeting house was adorned with photographs of the five previous Kingitanga monarchs, the late paramount chief Te Heu Heu and Princess Te Puea who groomed Dame Te Ata for her role as queen.

At the end of the mourning period Dame Te Ata’s casket was escorted by 3 magnificently carved waka taua (war canoes) for the hour long journey down the Waikato River to Taupiri Mountain, where she was buried alongside her ancestors.

During the tangi a select group of leaders from Maori tribes throughout New Zealand met to decide the next monarch. Their decision is made in secrecy rather like the deliberations of the conclave of cardinals that selects the Pope, though in a less formal and visible manner.

Although the new monarch did not necessarily have to be a member of the Tainui tribe as were the previous six, the council of chiefs named Dame Te Ata’s eldest son, Tuheiti Paki as seventh leader of the Kingitanga movement. In keeping with tradition their decision was announced on the day of internment to ensure the spirit of the tribe is not broken. The new king was welcomed onto the marae by a paramount chief and the crowd asked if they accepted him to be king. “Ae” they replied. Mr Paki then sat on the elaborately carved throne where after being tapped on the head with a bible he was proclaimed King.

The Maori King Movement

The Maori king or Kingitanga movement was formed in 1856 as the result of a meeting of Maori leaders incensed at the confiscation of their land by colonial settlers.
Seeing the colonialist’s strength resulting from their unity under Queen Victoria, Maori decided to appoint their own monarch. They reasoned the strength they would gain from this would enable them to hold onto their land.

In the short run this failed. Two monarchs in one country was seen by the then Governor, George Grey as being untenable and a challenge to colonial rule.
British troops invaded the Waikato trouncing the Maori and eventually forcing Tawhio the second king and his people to retreat to Maniapoto territory. This region is now known as the King Country. After the war the settler government confiscated more than 400,000ha of Tainui land.

Tawhaio and his successors fought against the confiscation, by constantly petitioning parliament. He twice journeyed London to speak with Queen Victoria in an attempt to seek redress.

On Tawhio’s death his son Mahuta became king. Despite Mahuta becoming a member of the legislative council and involving Kingitanga in mainstream politics for the first time the movement began a gradual decline.

In the early 1920s Princess Te Puea, aunt of the fifth monarch Kokoriki, breathed new life into the movement. She focused on the movement’s original vision of compensation for confiscated land. She also played a leading role in the establishment of Turangawaewae as the heart of the Waikato people.

In 1995 the Tainui claim for compensation was finally successful. The $NZ170m settlement granted to them by the government was the chief glory of Te Ata’s reign and a major achievement for Maoridom.

The show of strength and unity of the Maori people shown during Dame Te Ata’s tangi leaves no doubt as to the enduring relevance of Kingitanga.