Maoridom's new monarch given time to grieve

The Maori Queen's coffin is taken to Taupiri Mountain. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Maoridom's new King will be allowed time to grieve the passing of his mother, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, before performing formal duties for the Kingitanga movement.

Speculation over who would next lead the almost-150-year-old movement ended yesterday when a sombre-looking Tuheitia Paki was welcomed onto Turangawaewae Marae about 9am alongside Tuwharetoa paramount chief Tumu te Heuheu.

Cloaked in the kiwi-feathered korowai of the second Maori King, Tawhiao, Tuheitia made the procession to the carved wooden throne of the Kingitanga, or King Movement, marking his transition from Prince to King.

Seated beside Dame Te Ata's casket, the seventh Maori monarch had his eldest son, Whatumoana Paki, standing at his right shoulder.

Forty years ago, as an 11-year-old boy, Tuheitia Paki had watched seemingly overwhelmed as his mother became Queen in a similar ceremony.

Yesterday, the dual burden of grief and the weight of uniting Tainui and Maoridom was at times apparent on the face of the father of three.

The ceremony was steeped in tradition, combining elements of the first coronation - that of his great-great-great-great-grandfather King Potatau - in 1858.

At the formal ascension or "raising up" ceremony, Tuheitia was tapped on the head with a Bible - a royal tradition from when the first leader of the Kingitanga was crowned.

In keeping with tradition, a descendant of Wiremu Tamihana, the first Kingmaker, performed the ceremony, with the same Bible used to crown the previous Maori monarchs.

Moments before his ascension, senior Tainui kaumatua Tui Adams asked the gathering if the selected man should be King: "Ae," they replied - yes.

The new King is the Tainui cultural adviser at Te Wananga o Aotearoa but it is understood he will stand down from this role because of responsibilities involved with the title.

Tainui's Tom Moana said King Tuheitia would be allowed to grieve before being expected to fulfil any formal responsibilities.

His first public appearance is expected be a poukai gathering - an annual meeting where the King meets and feasts with his people - at Whatapaka marae in Mangere this month.

Unassuming, but a strong advocate for Maori

Mr Moana described King Tuheitia as unassuming and a deep thinker, who would be a strong advocate for Maori.

King Tuheitia was educated at Rakaumanga School, Huntly, and St Stephen's College in Bombay, south of Auckland. He and his wife, Te Atawhai, have three children, Whatumoana, Korotangi and Naumai.

Speaking after the ceremony, Dr Adams said King Tuheitia had been ear-marked to lead from an early age, but doubt was thrown over his role when Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, concerned tribal leaders would not support a male heir, named her eldest daughter Heeni Katipa as successor.

Dame Te Ata feared her eldest son would not draw the same support as a Queen from the country's predominantly male dominated iwi leadership, Dr Adams said.

Another senior Tainui elder said Dame Te Ata believed the gentle and calm nature of Mrs Katipa would continue a peace-making and healing role that the Queen had nurtured in gaining support from the country's tribes.

The kaumatua said Dame Te Ata had often quelled heated debates on the marae that had threatened to become physical, a situation not guaranteed with her son at the helm.

"There are things said and done that men will accept from a woman but not from a man. We can stand as warriors, but a woman can calm things down. I have seen it before on this very marae," the kaumatua said.

However, Dr Adams said Dame Te Ata changed her stance after receiving assurances from iwi leaders that they would continue to support the movement if her son became King.

Mrs Katipa is understood to have withdrawn from consideration, telling iwi leaders that Dame Te Ata had revealed before her death that she supported Tuheitia to be King.

It is understood iwi leaders, including Sir Tipene O'Regan, Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia, and Ngati Porou chairman Api Mahuika, had just one issue to consider, whether Tuheitia was suitable for the role.

Dr Adams said he understood the decision was unanimous.

"When one totara has fallen, another takes its place."

He said the priority for the new King was to form a strong group of advisers to support him in his transition from father and cultural adviser to monarch.

It is understood he will resign from his role at Te Wananga o Aotearoa to focus on his role as head of the Kingitanga.

Tainui kaumatua Hare Puke urged Maori to give the new King time to settle in the role.

"People must not compare the two rulers, Te Arikinui had 40 years to master her wisdom and skill."

Mr Puke described King Tuheitia as hard-working, calm and humble - attributes inherited from his mother.

"When you meet him, he commands a personality that lets you know you are in the presence of someone special, without being arrogant or having expectation about his place. He will be a very good man of the people."

King Tuheitia is understood to have been mentored by Dr Adams, a key adviser to Dame Te Ata, and Tuwharetoa paramount chief Tumu te Heuheu.

The pair assisted both in King Tuheitia's professional development and travelled with him when he fulfilled royal duties for his mother in New Zealand and around the Pacific.

As prince becomes king, another prepares to one day take his place

Forty years ago a slim 11-year-old boy watched, seemingly overwhelmed, as his mother became a queen.

Revered Tainui leader Princess Te Puea had nurtured the then 34-year-old Piki Paki, soon to be crowned Te Arikinui Atairangikaahu, to take over from her father, King Koroki.

Also under the guiding influence of kaumatua was her eldest son, Tuheitia Paki, the boy who would be king.

And yesterday at Turangawaewae Marae the legacy continued, with the now 51-year-old King Tuheitia assuming the mantle prepared years before.

He was crowned the seventh Maori monarch in a legacy stretching back to 1858 and the first Maori King, his great-great-great-great-grandfather, King Potatau Tewherowhero.

And again, as it was in the new king's youth at the 1966 coronation of Dame Te Ata, a young prince was prominent in proceedings. Standing at his father's right shoulder was Whatumoana Paki, 16, whose journey to becoming king has already begun.

A Tainui spokeswoman said the student at Huntly's Te Wharekura O Rakaumanga School - the same school attended by his father and grandmother - was marked for leadership at a young age.

Training has involved lessons in Kingitanga traditions and work around the royal household - Turongo, at Turangawaewae Marae.

The young prince is described as articulate and bright. Like his father, he is understood to be involved in kapa haka, but is said to be more fluent in te reo. "Whatu is no longer like the rest of his cousins, he is the next in line," said the spokeswoman.