Tūheitia

Poukai The Poukai is an annual series of visits by the Māori King to marae around and beyond the Tainui region, a tradition that dates back to the 19th century. Poukai were established by the second Māori King, Tāwhiao, who said "Kua whakatūria e ahau tēnei kaupapa hei whāngai i te pouaru, te pani me te rawakore, he kuaha whānui kua puare ki te puna tangata me te puna kai" (I have instituted this gathering to feed the widowed, the bereaved and the destitute, it is a doorway that has been opened to the multitudes of people and the bounty of food).

There are 29 Poukai every year and King Tūheitia attended each one. Poukai are a critical event in the Kīngitanga calendar. A unique element of Poukai is their focus on: te pani (the bereaved), te pouaru (the widowed) and te rawakore (the destitute). These events, led by the monarch, are put in place to assist and help ease the burdens and challenges faced by people.

Political involvement King Tūheitia was at the forefront of many political issues, particularly pertaining to Māori.

In February 2017, King Tūheitia signed a formal accord with the Department of Corrections; the accord would later be recognised by an award from Corrections in August the same year. The accord led to the development of "iwi justice panels", and a further partnership with Corrections to build a reintegration centre for incarcerated women who gave birth while in prison. In a visit to a women's prison in Auckland, the King visited mothers and their children and pledged to do more for all incarcerated people. In 2018, the King launched, in collaboration with the New Zealand Police and Ministry of Justice, the iwi justice panel. This approach to restorative justice aims to reduce incarceration rates among Māori, which are among the highest for an indigenous people in the world.

2024 national hui In December 2023, King Tūheitia issued a royal proclamation to hold a national hui (meeting) to promote Māori unity in January 2024. The hui was in response to the Kīngitanga movement's concerns that the new National-led coalition government's policies towards the Treaty of Waitangi would reverse "decades of hard fought justice." The national hui was held at Tūrangawaewae marae on 20 January 2024. Key topics expected to be discussed at the hui included the Government's proposals to abolish Te Aka Whai Ora (the Māori Health Authority), roll back the use of the Māori language in the public service, repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022 and review the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. During his address, Tuheitia said “the best protest we can do right now is be Māori, be who we are, live our values, speak our reo, care for our mokopuna.”

On 15 January 2024, King Tūheitia met with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka and discussed several of the Government's policies including the proposed Treaty Principles legislation and plans to roll back the use of Māori language in the public service. The King's chaplain, Archdeacon Simmonds, stated that the King would continue to speak Māori regardless of Government policy and direction.

On 20 January, 10,000 people attended the national hui at Tuurangawaewae Marae including former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, activist and artist Tame Iti, former New Zealand First and National MP Tau Henare, former Te Pāti Māori president Tuku Morgan, and National MPs Tama Potaka and Dan Bidois (who attended as government representatives). The national hui commenced with five workshops focusing on the Māori language, Treaty of Waitangi, national identity, oranga tangata (well-being of people) and oranga taiao (well-being of nature) followed by a plenary session. Tūheitia addressed attendees at 4pm.

During his address, King Tūheitia stated that "the best protest we can do right now is be Māori, be who we are, live our values, speak our reo ['language'], care for our mokopuna ['children']."

King Tūheitia attended a further national hui, held at Hastings in late May 2024.

18th koroneihana In mid-August 2024, Tūheitia's eighteenth koroneihana (coronation anniversary celebration) was held at Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia. Invitations were extended to leaders across the New Zealand political spectrum. While the National, Labour, New Zealand First, Te Pāti Māori and the Greens accepted the invitations extended to their leaders, ACT declined. At the event, both Prime Minister Luxon and NZ First senior minister Shane Jones reiterated that their respective parties would not support ACT's Treaty Principles Bill beyond its first reading.

Personal life and death

Tūheitia was a truck driver before becoming the Māori King. His time in the profession was widely reported on after his death, although he spent most of his career as administrator at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. At the time of his ascension, Tūheitia was cultural adviser to Te Wānanga and had previously managed its campus in Huntly. He was apparently "almost immediately assailed by lobbyists and political groups jockeying for his favour". He had to appoint his son Whatumoana as regent in 2013 because of his health battles, and in December 2016 underwent a kidney transplant donated by his youngest son, Korotangi. A new monarch, his daughter Nga wai hono i te po, was elected by leaders of tribes associated with the Kīngitanga on the day of Tūheitia's funeral.

Tekau-ma-Rua and Te Kahui Wairua Māori leaders at Rātana Pā on 25 January 2012. (L-R) Harerangi Meihana, Sir Tumu Te Heuheu, Kingi Tūheitia and Sir Jerry Mateparae

An advisory council, the Tekau-mā-Rua ('the Twelve'), exists to offer advice and act as a senior council within the Kīngitanga. From the time of Tāwhiao to Te Atairangikaahu, the Tekau-mā-Rua were selected from within Tainui, the monarch's tribal confederation. Historically all members were men. Te Atairangikaahu's council went into recess after Henare Tuwhangai died in 1989. King Tūheitia decided to re-establish the Tekau-mā-Rua, but made up of members from outside Tainui, Hemana Manuera was the inaugural chair, and other members included Pou Temara, Sir Toby Curtis, Kihi Ngatai, Mere Broughton and June Mariu. Member (representative area)Che Wilson (Chairperson)Te Wainuiarua-WhanganuiRikirangi GageTe Whānau-ā-ApanuiHemana ManueraNgāti AwaSir Pou TemaraNgāi TūhoeTe Kahautu MaxwellTe WhakatoheaSir Herewini ParataNgāti PorouWharehoka WanoTaranakiJerry HapukuNgāti KahungunuHone HarawiraTaitokerauTuri NgataiTauranga Moana(Vacant)Te ArawaJustin TipaTe Wai Pounamu

At 2020: Companion members Prue Kapua – Māori Women's Welfare LeagueDame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi – Te Kōhanga ReoSir Taihakurei Durie – NZ Māori Council

Te Kāhui Wairua

At 2020: Member (denomination)Tumuaki Rev. Diana Tana (Chairperson)Te Hāhi Weteriana / The Methodist ChurchRev. Rex NathanTe Hāhi Weteriana / The Methodist ChurchApotoro Takiwa Joe EverittTe Hāhi Ratana / The Rātana ChurchRev. Wayne Te KaawaTe Aka Puaho / The Presbyterian ChurchRev. Mahaki AlbertTe Aka Puaho / The Presbyterian Church(Vacant) Pai Mārire Poutikanga Wirangi PeraTe Hāhi Ringatu / The Ringatu ChurchVen. Ngira SimmondsTe Hāhi Mihinare / The Anglican ChurchRt. Rev'd Ngarahu KateneTe Hāhi Mihinare / The Anglican Church(Vacant)Te Hāhi Katorika / The Catholic Church

Honours In 2009, King Tūheitia was appointed a Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John by Queen Elizabeth II, and he was presented with the insignia for the honour by the governor-general, Sir Jerry Mateparae in 2016 during the 10th anniversary commemorations of the King's coronation. He was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Tonga during the coronation ceremonies of King George Tupou V of Tonga. In 2010, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lazarus. In 2014, he established and became the first sovereign head of the Māori Kīngi Honours In 2016, in celebration of the King's 10th Coronation Anniversary, the mayor of Hamilton awarded him the city's highest honour, the Freedom of the City. In the same year, the King also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Waikato.