27-Year-Old Nga Wai Hono i te Pō Crowned as New Māori Queen After Father’s Passing
In a poignant and elaborate ceremony, 27-year-old Nga Wai Hono i te Pō was officially crowned as the new Māori Queen of New Zealand. Just a week after the passing of her father, Kīngi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII, Nga Wai Hono i te Pō assumed the sacred role, marking a historical moment for the Māori people. The emotional coronation, which included a procession with her father’s coffin to Mount Taupiri, a site sacred to the Māori, drew thousands of attendees to honor both the late king and his successor.
Nga Wai Hono i te Pō is only the second Māori Queen in history, following her grandmother, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, who reigned until 2006. The role of Māori monarch is not hereditary but chosen by tribal representatives from across the country. The decision to select Nga Wai Hono i te Pō came at a time of deep mourning, with the loss of her father, who had served as king for 18 years.
“It’s both an honor and a heavy burden,” one attendee at the ceremony remarked, “but her strength mirrors her ancestors.
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