New Māori Queen ushers in great expectations...

 

Yesterday, at the tangihanga or funeral of the late Māori King, Te Arikinui, Kīngi Tuheitea Pōtatau te Wherowhero VII before he was laid to rest atop Taupiri maunga (mountain), it was interesting to note that he was taken by a flotilla of Māori waka or canoes to the maunga.

It would have been such an amazing experience to observe this occasion and I learned that some of my students and colleagues were going with their families to be present at the tangi or funeral.

It was also interesting to note that upon the passing of the King that an announcement was made by the Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage that all New Zealand flags be flown at half mast until the day of his funeral which was yesterday.

I remember over the last few years of teaching tikanga (Māori cultural practices and protocols) I learned more about the Kingitanga movement and the prospects of who might become the next successor with many believing that it would be his youngest daughter and not her two elder brothers. Now she has rightfully been honoured by the privilege yet saddened in the passing of her father.

The new Māori queen has been given the title of: Ngā Wai hono i te Pō it's an interesting name and would have been given after much deliberation. She is second to the only other Māori Queen who was her grandmother.

At 27 years old, she has a lot of expectations to meet as her late father and Māori King was seen as a person of kotahitanga (bringing together as one). He earlier invited iwi (tribes) to come together for discussions at his Marae of Turangawaewae in Ngāruawahia.

This was especially in the wake of the new coalition government's policies that have been confronting to Māori and many people who have lost jobs, or had their government jobs restructured under the tight economic squeeze of this present government's fiscal belt tightening. This comes at a time when NZ's unemployment rate has soared with new government policies.

We wish her well, as this will not be an easy time to ascend as a young Māori women steeped in tikanga of which she has a Masters degree with the expectations of many for her to rein similarly to her paternal late grandmother and late father.

Aotearoa New Zealand now ushers in a new monarch, although not constitutionally recognized, she still holds great mana (esoteric power) and prestige in her position. I believe that she will carry her role with dignity and the high expectations of her people in this post-modern age...