The country’s political leaders have honoured the late Māori King – Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII – as a humble, strong-spirited leader who ultimately succeeded in his ambition to bring people together.
Ministers and MPs departed from their usual Parliamentary business on Tuesday to pay tribute to the Māori monarch with a series of speeches, recalling personal interactions with the King, how he impacted Aotearoa and more light-hearted accounts of when his personality shone through.
In a moving speech, Te Pāti Māori MP for Hauraki-Waikato Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke shared the heart-warming advice the late King had given her as she prepared to stand as a candidate in the last election.
“My most personal experience with you is that you believed in me so much. When we first announced that I was standing as a candidate in the election campaign, people either said that we were crazy, laughed or they felt sorry for me.
“A hui was called with the King and I asked, if I get in, what do you want me to do for you and Kīngitanga. He softly replied, and said: ‘Just be you’.
“I was privileged enough to have him with us on our election night and he said to me ‘I told you you could do it’.”
On the final day of the formal tangihanga proceedings for the King at Tūrangawaewae Marae, Maipi-Clarke said she watched “young girls’ eyes light up” as the new head of the Kīngitanga, and the King’s daughter, Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, walked through the gateway of the marae to be anointed.
“I heard a young girl whisper, ‘It’s like watching a real life Disney movie princess – but better.’”
“I can only imagine the grief you are feeling,” Maipi-Clarke said, directed to the Queen, “but I’m ready to serve you for the rest of my life.”
Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po arrives at Taupiri Maunga for the burial of her father, Kīngi Tūheitia. Photo / Mike Scott
The political leaders also honoured the people of Tainui who, in the words of Green MP Hūhana Lyndon, worked hard in the “dungeon” and behind the scenes at Tūrangawaewae Marae to feed and host the thousands of people who came to the tangi.
In his speech in the House, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon remembered the King’s deep humility and his presence, which he described as a “source of great comfort and strength”.
“He created space for us all.”
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer remembered the King’s aspirations for everyone to reach their full potential and his vision for kotahitanga (unity) that has “always been on the breaths, on the lips and the hearts” of the Kīngitanga.
Ngarewa-Packer thanked the Government for allowing the session of speeches to happen, saying: “It means more than you could know.”
Ngarewa-Packer called on her fellow political leaders sitting around the House to ensure they supported the new Māori monarch, who is 27, “as her father would have wanted.”
Labour’s Willie Jackson remembered a Māori monarch as a man with “personality plus” and “great character.”
“We will never forget him, he made such an impression on so many people.”
Jackson said it was important for Aotearoa to see the unity that was on display among the rival politicians at Tūrangawaewae Marae for the King’s tangi, describing it as “a tangi for a generation.”
Thousands of people attended the tangi at Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia. Several MPs and Ministers who spoke in the House today thanked their political opponents for attending the tangi and acknowledged the sense of unity among them all.
Among the past and current political leaders who attended were former Prime Ministers Helen Clark and Jenny Shipley, former deputy PM and foreign minister Sir Don McKinnon, and current PM Luxon.
Political leaders are visiting Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia today to pay their respects to Kīngi Tūheitia and his whānau include former Prime Minister Helen Clark, as well as party leaders Chris Hipkins. Photo / Mike Scott
Former governor-general Dame Silvia Cartwright, current Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka and Matt Bolger, son of former PM Jim Bolger, and former Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell also attended, alongside iwi and Pacific leaders, the King’s former schoolmates from St Stephen’s, and many others.
Luxon was one of the many speakers at the tangi at Tūrangawaewae Marae. He credited Tūheitia’s ability to bring people together and his focus on kotahitanga (unity), which was a central theme of his recent public addresses.
The Prime Minister said the late King was a leader whose commitment to Māori was felt “right across the country.”
“You talked with optimism and positivity, you laughed, you were kind and you were gracious as always, that is the Kīngi Tūheitia that I will remember.”
