Death of Tūheitia

Death of Tūheitia

Tūheitia with Charles III in London in 2023, the year before his death
Date	30 August 2024 (2024-08-30) (death) 5 September 2024 (2024-09-05) (burial)
Venue	Tūrangawaewae marae (lying-in-state and funeral) Taupiri mountain (burial ceremony)
Location	Ngāruawāhia (funeral) Taupiri (burial)

Tūheitia, the Māori King and leader of the Kīngitanga, died on 30 August 2024 at the age of 69. The King had been recovering in hospital from cardiac surgery. His death came less than two weeks after hosting his eighteenth koroneihana, the annual celebration of his coronation. As the Māori monarchy is not hereditary by right, leaders of tribes associated with the Kīngitanga gathered to elect Tūheitia's successor during his tangi (funeral rites). Tūheitia was suceeded by his daughter, Nga Wai Hono i Te Pō, on the final day of his tangi.

Death and plans for tangi

The death of Kiingi Tūheitia is a moment of great sadness for followers of Te Kiingitanga, Maaoridom and the entire nation.

He kura kua ngaro ki tua o Rangi-whakamoe-ariki. Moe mai raa.
(A chief who has passed to the great beyond. Rest in love.)

The office of the Kiingitanga

Tūheitia died in the morning of 30 August 2024, according to a statement released by the office of the Kīngitanga, with Kīngitanga chief of staff Ngira Simmonds confirming a prior heart surgery had been unsuccessful. To mark his death, the New Zealand government ordered flags to be flown at half-mast on all government and public buildings with immediate effect.

It was announced that the king's body would lay in state at the official royal residence of Tūrangawaewae marae.

A government delegation led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka visited Tūrangawaewae marae on 31 August. Luxon subsequently departed for a pre-planned work trip to Malaysia and South Korea on 1 September 2024. Luxon and Potaka were accompanied by senior politicians and officials incuding former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, former Deputy Prime Minister Don McKinnon, and former Governor-General Silvia Cartwright.

Tangi

On Wednesday, 4 September 2024, a political powhiri was held as part of the tangi. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters led the government delegation consisting of Members of Parliament (MPs) from the National, ACT and New Zealand First parties including Speaker Gerry Brownlee, National deputy leader Nicola Willis, ACT leader David Seymour, MPs Nicole McKee, Karen Chhour, Shane Reti, Paul Goldsmith, Shane Jones and Casey Costello. In addition, MPs from the opposition Labour and Green parties including Labour leader Chris Hipkins, Labour Māori caucus co-leader Willie Jackson, Peeni Henare, Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick and Green MP Teanau Tuiono attended the Wednesday tangi. Te Pāti Māori MPs participated in the tangi as members of their own iwi (tribes) and did not take part in the Wednesday powhiri.

Thursday, 5 September 2024, was the final day of the tangi. Tūheitia’s daughter and youngest child, Nga Wai Hono i Te Pō, was announced as the new monarch by leaders of tribes associated with the Kīngitanga, including the Tekau-mā-rua ("Twelve"), a council of senior Kīngitanga advisers from across the country. She was subsequently acclaimed as Queen by the process of Te Whakawahinga. Using the original 1858 Bible of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, Archbishop Don Tamihere used sacred oils to bestow “prestige, sacredness, power and spiritual essence” upon the new Queen in the presence of her late father.

After the enthronement ceremony, Tūheitia’s body was carried by pallbearers to his hearse, where a procession began down to the banks of the Waikato River, with crowds of mourners in attendance. A guard of honour from Ngāti Mahuta and the New Zealand Defence Force guarded the casket and guided it to the banks. His body was placed onto the waka Tātahi Ora, one of several of the flotilla adorned with kawakawa leaves. There was a no-fly zone above the area and the Waikato River between Pukete and Huntly.

The waka, also bearing the new queen, travelled 10 kilometres down the river to Mount Taupiri, where Māori monarchs are buried in unmarked graves as a sign of equality among their people. A train was hired to take mourners from Tūrangawaewae to the burial grounds. The waka journey took two hours. His casket was carried up 300 steps to the site of the grave by members of the Taniwharau and Tūrangawaewae Rugby League Clubs, with traditional ropes supporting them by Raungaiti Rugby Club. A small private service was then conducted at the grave.

Reactions

New Zealand

• The King of New Zealand, Charles III, acknowledged the death of Tūheitia in an official statement, saying "I had the greatest pleasure of knowing Kiingi Tuheitia for decades. He was deeply committed to forging a strong future for Māori and Aotearoa New Zealand founded upon culture, traditions and healing, which he carried out with wisdom and compassion. I remember with immense fondness meeting Kiingi Tuheitia many times, including when Her Majesty [Queen Camilla] and I were hosted so warmly and graciously at the Tūrangawaewae marae in 2015, and then again during our meeting at Buckingham Palace last year. His death is a particular shock in view of the fact that I had only very recently spoken to Kiingi on the telephone at the beginning of August. Kua hinga te tōtara i Te Waonui a Tāne. (A mighty tōtara tree has fallen.)"
• The Governor-General of New Zealand, Dame Cindy Kiro, stated "All Waikato-Tainui and Kingitanga will be mourning the passing of their leader, and his loss will be felt across Māoridom and the wider Pacific. Kiingi Tuheitia built on the mahi of his forebears, advocating for Waikato-Tainui and promoting peace and unity. He inspired iwi Māori to hold fast to our identity and take pride in our reo. My husband Richard and I will treasure our memories of the time we spent with Kiingi Tuheitia and Te Makau Ariki, at Waitangi and at the Coronation of King Charles III in London."
• The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) released a statement extending condolences, saying "Kiingi Tuheitia and the Kiingitanga movement has made a significant impact on Te Whare o Pou Tangata over the last 20 years and has been instrumental in the NZOC's te ao Māori journey. The NZOC relationship with the Kiingitanga was first forged in 2004 with the late Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, who blessed and named the New Zealand Team's very first Olympic kākahu, Te Māhutonga. The relationship was reignited in April this year when her son, Kiingi Tuheitia, blessed and bestowed his mauri into the second Olympic kākahu, Te Hono ki Matariki."

Political

• The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, acknowledged the death of Tūheitia on Twitter, saying "Kua riro atu ra a Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero te Tuawhitu. E Te Kiingi Māori, takoto mai I te arikitanga o te pō. Haere atu ra! Today, we mourn the loss of Kiingi Tuheitia. His unwavering commitment to his people and his tireless efforts to uphold the values and traditions of the Kiingitanga have left an indelible mark on our nation. I will remember his dedication to Aotearoa New Zealand, his commitment to mokopuna, his passion for te ao Māori, and his vision for a future where all people are treated with dignity and respect. I will also remember the kindness he showed me personally whenever I met with him at Tūrangawaewae."
  • Former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins also acknowledged the passing on Twitter, saying "The passing of Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has me both saddened and shocked — having just celebrated the 18th anniversary of his Coronation. Kiingi Tuheitia was a fierce and staunch advocate, voice and leader, not only for Māoridom — but for a better and more inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand. His commitment to the kaupapa was fearless and unwavering — that’s his legacy that we’ll all remember fondly. Haere ki o tūpuna, okioki tahi ki ōu mātua."
  • Former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern stated on Instagram: "You have been an advocate for Māori, for fairness, justice and prosperity. You wanted children, young people, and those who have been left behind to have opportunities and hope. You worked tirelessly on building understanding and knowledge of our shared history and in doing so, strengthening Aotearoa. And amongst all of that, you made everyone feel welcome - including me. Nga mihi nui, Kingi. Rest easy now."
  • Former Prime Minister Helen Clark stated on Twitter: "I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of Kingi Tuheitia this morning. I extend my deepest condolences to Kingi Tuheitia's whanau & the Kingitanga throughout Aotearoa at this very sad time. Ka aroha hoki."

Local government

• Mayor of Kaipara Craig Jepson attracted controversy for refusing to hold a moment of silence to mark the passing of Māori King Tūheitia. Councillor Pera Paniora described Jepson's actions as disrespectful towards Māori.

International

• Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown said that "memories that stick out of the Māori king is a person with such strong belief in his people, his humbleness, his humility that he carried, but also his very strong mana that he carried with him as well." He added it was "a very sad day for us in the Cook Islands."
• Prime Minister of Fiji Sitiveni Rabuka offered his condolences in parliament a few days after the passing, stating that "His Majesty was a dear friend of Fiji".
• The Embassy of Israel in New Zealand posted a statement offering condolences, adding that "As it is written in Deuteronomy 20:19, 'For man is a tree of the field' — a verse that reflects our deep respect for nature and the growth of life."
• The ambassador of the Netherlands to New Zealand, Ard van der Vorst, posted a statement on Twitter: "At this difficult moment my thoughts are with the Kingitanga family and Tainui people. May his legacy inspire to continue to build a future as he envisioned. Rest in Peace."
• Prime Minister of Tonga Siaosi Sovaleni described the death of Tūheitia as "very sad news", adding "I'm sure that the people of Tonga feel the loss of this great leader of the Pacific. Our thoughts and prayers are with New Zealand." He added that Aotearoa–Tonga relations were strengthened by the relations between the Kīngitanga and the Tongan royal family.
• British High Commissioner to New Zealand Iona Thomas extended her "greatest sympathies to [Tūheitia's] whānau and all who are mourning the Māori King."
• Governor of Hawaii Josh Green said Tūheitia "was instrumental in uniting - not only his people - but Pasifika in Aotearoa and around the world", and recalled their meeting in Hawaii during the Festival of Pacific Arts earlier in June.
• Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum and former President of Nauru Baron Waqa stated that "the whole of the Pacific will mourn his passing. [...] We're all here in Tonga, finishing off the [Pacific Islands Forum] leaders' meeting, and this is ... devastating news for us."