- Tuheitia Paki
Tuheitia Paki OStJ (born
21 April 1955 ) is the current Māori king inNew Zealand (Aotearoa ). He is the eldest son of the previous Māori monarch, DameTe Atairangikaahu , and was announced as her successor and crowned on the same day as hertangihanga (funeral rites) took place, onAugust 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. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10397574]He was educated at
Rakaumanga School in Huntly,Southwell School in Hamilton andSt Stephen's College in Bombay.Marriage and Family
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 toTe Wananga o Aotearoa at Huntly.Since ascending to the throne official duties include:
* attending the funeral ofKing Taufa'ahau Tupou IV ofTonga , September 2006
* attending the opening ofPūkawa Marae on the shore ofLake Taupo , Aotearoa, on 17-19 November 2006.
* attending the opening of "Mauri Ora" an exhibition of Māori artefacts from Te Papa on exhibition at theTokyo National Museum inTokyo, Japan on22 January 2007 . [ [http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/TePapa/English/AboutTePapa/Media/MediaReleases/2006/MauriOra.htm Mauri Ora: Treasures from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa - Tokyo National Museum, Japan] ] [ [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0612/S00093.htm Mauri Ora: Treasures from Museum of NZ in Japan] ]
* attending the funeral ofMalietoa Tanumafili II ofSamoa ,19 May ,2007
* attending the re-opening of the marae/war memorial hall in Ngaiotonga, Whangaruru 2007Notes
References
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5269822.stm New Zealand Maori choose new king]
* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10397245 New Zealand Herald: New Maori monarch takes throne]
* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/media.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10396638 Pictures: Māori Monarchs since 1858]
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