New Zealand's Maori King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero-VII passes away
New Zealand's Maori King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII died on Friday at the age of 69 after undergoing heart surgery. His death was announced on social media by Kiingitanga, the Maori King Movement. The king passed away peacefully in the presence of his wife Makau Ariki and their children, it said. He had been recuperating in hospital following his heart surgery when he died.
King Tuheitia's reign and legacy
King Tuheitia was the seventh ruler in the Kiingitanga movement, a position established in 1858 to unite New Zealand's Indigenous Maori tribes against British colonization. His reign lasted for 18 years, during which he worked tirelessly for the unity of Maori tribes. The king's death has been described as a moment of great sadness for followers of Te Kiingitanga, Maaoridom, and the entire nation.
Tributes pour in for King Tuheitia
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon paid tribute to King Tuheitia, praising his vision for a future where all people are treated with dignity and respect. "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," Luxon said. King Charles III, New Zealand's constitutional head of state, and Queen Camilla also expressed their profound sadness at Tuheitia's passing.
King Tuheitia's final journey
In the week leading up to King Tuheitia's death, thousands of people visited Turangawaewae Marae, the Maori King Movement headquarters in Ngaruawahia, for annual celebrations of his ascension to the throne. The king will lie in state at Turangawaewae Marae for five days before being laid to rest on Taupiri Mountain. The successor to the throne, held by the Tainui tribes in Waikato region, has not yet been determined.
