Far North Mayor hails naming of new monarch

Far North Mayor Kahika Moko Tepania has described the naming of the new monarch of the Kiingitanga as a “historic day for our nation”.

Te Tekaumārua, the King's Council of tribal leaders, which included Matua Hone Harawira as the northern representative, chose Kiingi Tuheitia’s youngest child and only daughter, 27-year-old Te Arikinui Kuīni Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō as the eighth Māori monarch.

"Haere atu rā ki Hawaiki-nui, Hawaiki-roa, Hawaiki-pāmamao e Kīngi Tūheitia. We acknowledge the burial of Kīngi Tūheitia today and his lasting legacy of kotahitanga (unity),” says Kahika Tepania.

“Today is a historic day for our nation. I am proud today to see Te Arikinui Kuīni Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō named the new monarch and know that she will be a strong leader for Aotearoa. Te Arikinui Kuīni Ngāwai has links to our northern Te Aupōuri tribe and we look forward to welcoming her home.”

Te Arikinui Kuīni Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō was educated at Te Whare Kura o Rakaumanga in Huntly and received a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship in 2016. She completed a Bachelor of Arts followed by a Master of Arts degree with first-class honours in Tikanga Māori from the University of Waikato in 2022.

Far North District Council's flag was flown at half-mast today (Thursday), the final day of mourning for the tangihanga of Kīngi Tūheitia.