Kīngi Tuheitia laid to rest on Taupiri Maunga

Kīngi Tuheitia has been laid to rest on Taupiri Maunga, alongside his mother and previous Māori monarchs.

Following a moving Te Whakawahinga – raising up ceremony – where his daughter was named the eighth monarch, Kīngi Tuheitia, who died last Friday aged 69, was taken from Tūrangawaewae Marae to his resting place on the mountain.

Crowds of people lined the streets as Kīngi Tuheitia was taken to the banks of the Waikato River, before a waka – Tātahi Ora – and others by its side took him and his daughter, Te Arikinui Kuīni Nga Wai Hono i te Po, about 10km along the river before his final journey up the maunga.

Thousands gathered to welcome him to his final resting place, as members of the Taniwharau and Tūrangawaewae Rugby League Clubs – alongside rope handlers Raungaiti Rugby Club – carried Kīngi Tuheitia up Taupiri Maunga.

Many mourners took the train from south to north to meet the waka on the shores of the river.

The train drivers who ferried mourners also did the same for the king’s mother, Queen Te Atairangikaahu, 18 years ago.

Five carriages were filled with mourners. At one stage of the trip, they broke out singing E Noho Tuheitia – a song that was called E Noho e Ata in the time of Tuheitia’s mother, Dame Te Atairangikaahu.

The song will “most definitely” change to reflect the reign of the new Queen, said Sonny Tahi.

“But we leave that to the Whare Ariki for them to decide.”

Tahi said his grandparents told him it was once E Noho, E Rata – named for Kuīni Nga Wai’s great-great grandfather, Te Rata Mahuta, the fourth king.

“That was the beginning, I think, the start there because [Te Rata was] the first ariki, because it was in the time of Te Puea [Herangi], who was the composer,” Tahi explained.

The singing came to a halt with the announcement of the arrival of Kīngi Tuheitia at Taupiri, ahead of the train’s own arrival. Passengers were told to stay on the train – only kaikaranga were let off in time to catch the procession.

“That’s where my kings are, that’s where my people lie, and I’m just filled with pride,” Kingston Pihema of Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae said before eventually getting off the train.

Once the king’s casket was carried up the mountain, his nehu (burial) took place, and a small group of people remained at the gravesite for a private service.

As per tradition, his grave will be left unmarked. All previous monarchs lie in unmarked graves as a sign of being equal in death with their people.

A new queen rises

Earlier, there was the most stirring of welcomes when at exactly 10am, the eighth Māori monarch emerged to a thunderous reception.

Te Arikinui Kuīni Nga Wai Hono i te Po — the youngest child and only daughter of the late Kīngi Tuheitia and Makau Ariki Atawhai — ascended the throne.

Te Whakawahinga began with the same Bible used for the first Māori King, Pootatau Te Wherowhero, in 1858. Then after applying sacred oils, the second youngest monarch was anointed to service. Her great grandfather, Koroki, was just three months younger when he ascended the throne.

The 27-year-old absorbed the moment, becoming the second woman to lead the Kiingitanga movement.

The ascension was met with plenty of approval, including among rangatahi around Tūrangawaewae Marae.

Moesha Wharawhara-Gate grinned from ear to ear as she watched the new queen on the big screen outside Tūrangawaewae Marae.

She said the raising up of the new queen was “so good for the younger generation”.

“I was so happy because she’s my age.”