A new Maori Queen, Nga Wai Hono i te Po, has been anointed to replace her father, King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, who recently passed away. The new monarch was raised up in a traditional ceremony called Te Whakawahinga in front of thousands of people gathered for her father’s funeral and burial. Instead of being crowned, a bible that has been used since 1858 was placed on her head and Archbishop Don Tamihere used sacred oils to bestow prestige, power, and spiritual essence upon her.
The funeral for King Tuheitia was held at Tuurangawaewae, the meeting place of the King movement, where thousands gathered to bid him farewell in a traditional Maori ceremony. Following the anointment of the new Queen, the King’s coffin was taken to the Waikato River by hearse and then paddled to Taupiri Mountain in a flotilla of traditional Maori waka or canoes for burial alongside other royals and high-profile Maori.
This transition comes at a time when New Zealand is facing significant challenges to race relations, making the role of the new Maori Queen even more crucial. The anointment of Nga Wai Hono i te Po marks a new chapter for the Maori people, continuing the legacy of her father and the royal family.
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