King ‘profoundly saddened’ by death of Maori king
The King said he is “profoundly saddened” by the death of Maori king Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, a decades-long friend to the British Royal family.
Kiingi Tuheitia died in New Zealand at the age of 69 on Friday, a Kiingitanga (Maori king movement) spokesman confirmed.
He had been recovering in hospital after undergoing heart surgery.
The King said news of Kiingi Tuheitia’s death “is a particular shock”, with the two having shared a long-running friendship.
“I had the greatest pleasure of knowing Kiingi Tuheitia for decades,” he said in a statement.
“He was deeply committed to forging a strong future for Maori and Aotearoa New Zealand founded upon culture, traditions and healing, which he carried out with wisdom and compassion.
“His death is a particular shock in view of the fact that I had only very recently spoken to Kiingi on the telephone at the beginning of August.”
The King said he looks back on the friendship with “immense fondness”, having visited New Zealand in 2015, where he and the Queen visited the town of Ngaruawahia with the Kiingi and his wife Makau Ariki.
The Kiingi also visited Charles and Camilla at Buckingham Palace last year.
The Kiingi’s relationship with the British Royal family began with Elizabeth II.
The two royals shared the same birthday – April 21– which was commented on on numerous occasions by the late Queen.
Kiingi Tuheitia is viewed in New Zealand as a unifying leader of the country’s native Maori people.
Tributes have poured in online with politicians and the general public taking to social media to share in their grief.
Christopher Luxon, New Zealand’s prime minister, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “Today, we mourn the loss of Kiingi Tuheitia.
“His unwavering commitment to his people and his tireless efforts to uphold the values and traditions of the Kiingitanga have left an indelible mark on our nation.
“I will remember his dedication to Aotearoa New Zealand, his commitment to mokopuna [the younger generation], his passion for te ao Maori [the Maori world], and his vision for a future where all people are treated with dignity and respect.”
He added: “I will also remember the kindness he showed me personally whenever I met with him at Turangawaewae [the headquarters of the Maori king movement].”
Chris Hipkins, New Zealand’s Labour leader, said via X: “The passing of Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has me both saddened and shocked – having just celebrated the 18th anniversary of his Coronation.
“Kiingi Tuheitia was a fierce and staunch advocate, voice and leader, not only for Maoridom – but for a better and more inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand.
“His commitment to the kaupapa was fearless and unwavering – that’s his legacy that we’ll all remember fondly.”
Jacinda Ardern, the former New Zealand prime minister, described him as “an advocate for Maori, for fairness, justice and prosperity”.
She told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation he “worked tirelessly on building understanding and knowledge of our shared history and in doing so, strengthening Aotearoa”.
A new Maori leader will now be appointed by heads of tribes on the day of Kiingi Tuheitia’s funeral but before he is buried, Radio New Zealand reports.
The Maori king is considered the paramount chief of several tribes, or iwi, but is not affiliated with all of them.
