FOCUS – The 27-year-old, daughter of the deceased previous monarch, is the second woman to be crowned in the kingdom.
A “new dawn” for the Maoris of New Zealandwho welcomed her with tears of joy. The daughter of King Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII, died a little less than a week ago, ascended the throne on September 5. Nga Wai hono i te po Paki, 27, was cheered by several thousand people at a ceremony held at Turangawaewae Marae on New Zealand’s North Island.
Nga Wai, the youngest of her siblings and the only daughter of Tuheitia VII, is the second crowned woman of the Maori kingdom after her grandmother who reigned for four decades. The Maori, approximately 900,000 people (17% of the New Zealand population) are thought to originate from the islands located around Tahiti.
Invested in its culture
Nga Wai holds a Master of Arts in Māori Cultural Studies from the University of Waikato in New Zealand’s North Island and studied Māori language and customary law at the same university. She received her moko kauae (chin tattoo) at the age of 19, in honour of her father and his years on the throne. She is also known for teaching New Zealand children the songs and dances of her people.
Annette Sykes, a Maori lawyer who has fought for the rights of her people since the beginning of her career, welcomed the appointment. “She is an inspiration”she enthuses. with the British dailyThe Guardian. “The political, economic and social well-being of our people is at the heart of her concerns and in many ways she is like her grandmother who was adored by the nation.”she reports.
“We have all seen her grow up, she is very humble. I have seen her mature into this woman who is thirsty for authentic knowledge and brings it into the modern world.”she rejoiced again.
“Breaking with traditional choices”
Annette Sykes also points out that her induction was not a foregone conclusion. Not only because the role is not inherited, but also because Nga Wai has two older brothers, who were just as likely to be inducted. “This is a departure from traditional Maori leadership choices where the eldest child, usually a male, tends to succeed.”cultural advisor Karaitiana Taiuru told AFP. “The Maori world is looking for younger leadership in a period of great change”he stressed.
Nga Wai thus becomes the eighth monarch of the Maori kingdom, founded in 1858 to resist colonization and try to preserve the culture and lands of the Maori. This movement is not legally recognized since it is the British king Charles III who is the head of state of New Zealand. The role of the Māori monarch is largely ceremonial, although he is considered the supreme chief of several tribes.
Taking up the torch
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that the government warmly welcomed the appointment of the new queen, who takes up the torch left by her father.
The appointment comes amid tensions in New Zealand. center-right coalition The government, which came to power last year, is accused of undoing the policies of previous governments, particularly those aimed at promoting the official use of the Maori language, improving living standards and rights for indigenous peoples and repairing some of the wrongs caused by colonisation.
Last January, King Tuheitia VII gathered tribes from across the country to try to find an appropriate way to respond to the government’s plans. As Tuheitia VII told the thousands of attendees that their voices mattered, his daughter, the future new queen, stood by his side.
