Kīngi Tūheitia laid to rest on sacred Taupiri Maunga
Thursday, 5 September 2024
Kīngi Tūheitia has been laid to rest after a rousing funeral in Ngāruawāhia.
The King travelled by waka from Tūrangawaewae Marae to Taupiri Maunga where he was buried.
Earlier, Ngā Wai hono i te po Paki, the King's only daughter, was announced as his successor.
Kīngi Tūheitia has been laid to rest on the summit of Taupiri Maunga.
After travelling by waka from Tūrangawaewae Marae, the King was met at the base of the maunga by hundreds of mourners waiting to see him off.
Rope handlers from Raungaiti Rugby Club then carried the King to the summit of the maunga for his burial.
Tens of thousands of mourners had previously lined the banks of the Waikato River to pay their last respects to the King, with many breaking into impromptu haka and karanga as his flotilla went past.
The King was accompanied by six waka on his final journey, taking the same route as his mother, the late Māori Queen Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu took during her funeral in 2006.
Proceedings begin at Tūrangawaewae Marae on Thursday morning when the Tekau-mā-rua (the Kīngitanga advisory council) ushered in Queen Ngā Wai hono i te po Paki as Kīngi Tūheitia's successor.
This was followed by the funeral service for Kīngi Tūheitia.
The funeral procession has now returned to Tūrangawaewae Marae where the Tekau-mā-rua will lead the Whare Ariki (members of the royal house) on to the marae, followed by a hākari (feast) to conclude the tangihanga.
Kīngi Tūheitia died on August 30 after undergoing heart surgery.
The 69-year-old had ruled as head of the Kiingitanga since 2006.
Over the last week iwi from across the motu came to Ngāruawāhia to pay their respects to the King.
Politicians from across the spectrum also came en masse.
On Wednesday former Labour Party prime ministers Chris Hipkins and Helen Clark led their party’s representatives onto the marae, while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited on Saturday.
Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters led the government contingent onto the marae on Wednesday afternoon.
MPs from the ACT and Green Party also paid their respects, as did Te Pāti Māori MPs.