New Zealand’s Maori King, Kiingi Tuheitia, has passed away at the age of 69, following the recent celebration of his 18th year on the throne. His death was confirmed early on Friday morning, August 30.
A statement revealed that “Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII passed away peacefully, surrounded by his wife Makau Ariki and their children Whatumoana, Korotangi, and Ngawai Hono I Te Po.” Tuheitia was in the hospital recovering from heart surgery when his condition took a turn for the worse, according to Kiingitanga’s chief of staff, Ngira Simmonds, speaking to Radio NZ.
Tuheitia had ascended the throne in 2006, succeeding his mother, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu. Reports suggest that his funeral is expected to be held next Thursday, with his final resting place alongside his mother and previous Maori kings on the sacred Taupiri Mountain.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon paid tribute, with flags on government and public buildings flying at half-mast. In a statement from the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, Luxon expressed, “Today, we mourn. 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.”
British King Charles III, who is New Zealand’s formal head of state, expressed his shock at the news. “My wife and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the death of Kiingi Tuheitia,” King Charles said. “I had the greatest pleasure of knowing Kiingi Tuheitia for decades. He was deeply committed to forging a strong future for Maori and Aotearoa-New Zealand, founded upon culture, traditions, and healing, which he carried out with wisdom and compassion.”
