Tūheitia Paki
| Tuheitia Paki | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Māori King | |||||
| Reign | 21 August 2006 – present | ||||
| Coronation | 21 August 2006 | ||||
| Predecessor | Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu | ||||
| Issue | Whatumoana Korotangi Ngawaihono | ||||
| |||||
| House | Te Wherowhero | ||||
| Father | Whatumoana Paki | ||||
| Mother | Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu | ||||
Tuheitia Paki, OStJ (born 21 April 1955) is the current Māori king in New Zealand. He is the eldest son of the previous Māori monarch, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, and was announced as her successor and crowned on the same day as her tangihanga (funeral rites) took place, on August 21, 2006. His official title has not yet been decided but it is understood it will not be Te Arikinui (the great leader / chief), his mother's title. [1]
He was educated at Rakaumanga School in Huntly, Southwell School in Hamilton and St Stephen's College in Bombay.
On 27 November 2007, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of St John[2].
Family
His Father is Whatumoana Paki and his mother is Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu
He is married to Te Atawhai and has three children: Whatumoana, Korotangi, and Ngawai.
Duties and Background
Prior to becoming king, he was the Tainui cultural advisor to Te Wananga o Aotearoa at Huntly. Since ascending to the throne official duties include:
- attending the funeral of King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga, September 2006
- attending the opening of Pūkawa Marae on the shore of Lake Taupo, Aotearoa, on 17-19 November 2006.
- attending the opening of "Mauri Ora" an exhibition of Māori artefacts from Te Papa on exhibition at the Tokyo National Museum in Tokyo, Japan on 22 January 2007.[3][4]
- attending the funeral of Malietoa Tanumafili II of Samoa, 19 May 2007
- attending the re-opening of the marae/war memorial hall in Ngaiotonga, Whangaruru 2007
Abdication
In March 2009, the Maori King threatened to abdicate his title if tribal members "do not fall back into line."[5] He made the announcement after members of the tribe's parliament, Te Kauhanganui, questioned his use of tribal funds and his choice of company directors.[6]
Notes
- ^ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10397574
- ^ http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/59254/notices/984394/recent=10;category=state;subcategory=st-john
- ^ Mauri Ora: Treasures from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa - Tokyo National Museum, Japan
- ^ Mauri Ora: Treasures from Museum of NZ in Japan
- ^ Maori King threatens to abdicate
- ^ Maori King threatens to abdicate after actions criticised - New Zealand Herald
