2006 - 2024
During his 18-year reign, Kiingi Tuheitia was a steadfast advocate for unity and Kotahitanga, continuing the legacy the Kiingitanga has upheld for over 165 years.
Despite challenging times, including governmental setbacks on crucial policies, he emphasised that while Māori may be more appreciated abroad, it was important that Māori and the Government collaborated on the country’s future under the Treaty of Waitangi.
Kiingi Tuheitia’s message for unity and peace gathered over 10,000 at Tuurangawaewae, a message he later carried to major celebration at Raatana and Waitangi and again at Omahu Marae in Ngāti Kahungunu.
His commitment to indigenous solutions was evident at the inaugural Pacific Leaders’ meeting in Hawaii, where he signed the Tuurama Ariki Declaration with other Traditional Pacific Leaders, continuing the kinship links established from the time of Te Puea. The Declaration was a pledge to harness ancestral knowledge and unite people in addressing the urgent issue of climate change.
Kiingi Tuheitia was the Patron of Te Matatini, and as a previous performer for Taniwharau, he had a great appreciation and love of kapa haka, and his quiet but enthusiastic presence at the biennial Te Matatini festival will be greatly missed.
The health and wellbeing of our whaanau, te taiao, tikanga and cultural traditions were of paramount importance to Kiingi Tuheitia. He leaves behind a legacy of unwavering dedication to the preservation of the Treaty of Waitangi, so that Māori can live by their values, speak their reo, care of their land and future generations and in his own words “be Māori all day, every day.”
