As reported by RNZ, Te Puhi Ariki Ngawai Hono i te Po Paki has been named the new Māori Queen, succeeding her father, Kiingi Tuheitia, who passed away at 69 following heart surgery. At 27 years old, Ngawai Hono i te Po becomes the eighth Māori monarch and the second woman to hold the title, following her grandmother Te Atairangikaahu. The appointment was made by the Kiingitanga advisory council, the Tekau-maa-rua, after days of deliberation with leaders from various iwi across New Zealand.
Ngawai Hono i te Po's rise has been marked by her active involvement in Māori cultural and political life. She served on the Waitangi National Trust and has a strong background in Tikanga Māori, which has prepared her for the role. Her public presence grew as she often accompanied her father to significant events and took on various leadership roles within the community.
Kiingi Tuheitia's death and the subsequent appointment of Ngawai Hono i te Po have drawn mourners and dignitaries from around New Zealand and abroad to the Tuurangawaewae Marae. The succession ceremony took place alongside the tangihanga (funeral rites) for Kiingi Tuheitia, marking a poignant transition for the Māori people and the Kiingitanga movement.
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