August Annotations

Dame Te Ata
A Maori Queen & Her Dynasty

Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, known simply as Te Ata, was the first queen of the M?ori of New Zealand. She was queen for 40 years, the longest reigning monarch, and passed away in 2006 at the age of 75. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

“In times of great change in society and in M?oridom, Dame Te Ata has provided both continuity and outstanding leadership,” said Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand. “She will be greatly missed.”

Te Ata, the sixth monarch in what had been an all-male hereditary line, was beloved by her people. Though the M?ori monarch doesn’t hold a constitutional function, Te Ata was a highly regarded figurehead and presided over the cultural events of her people. She was supportive in local and even international indigenous issues.

The former Princess Piki was named the first Queen of the Maori monarchy - also known as the ‘King Movement’ - on May 23, 1966. She assumed her mother’s maiden name of Te Atairangikaahu.

Like the young Princess Elizabeth, Princess Piki was happily married with several children when she had to step in to represent her father, whose health was declining. King Koroki only had daughters, so although there were grumblings over the crowning of a woman as the head of the ‘Kingitanga’, it was a hereditary line that could not be broken. Lineage in Maori society is of the utmost importance.

Te Ata, like her father and her forebears, loved her people and wanted them to have as much of a role as possible in their country’s affairs. She set about promoting culture and language, and she supported Maori officials.

The King Movement of which Te Ata was now head started as a reaction to British colonization in New Zealand. Maori had been rapidly losing land and independence to European settlers. They did, however, admire monarchy and saw it as an effective form of government for their people.

The Kingly Roots

The M?ori are descended from early tribal Polynesians that came to New Zealand over thousands of years. The British and Europeans, on the other hand, were relatively new to the island. European settlers and Christian missionaries only began flowing into New Zealand in the 1830s. After a period of tribal warfare and the chaos of European diseases, Queen Victoria was called in to intervene and help. The Queen annexed New Zealand by royal proclamation soon after in 1840.

A decade later, the M?ori King Movement (the ‘Kingitanga’) sprang to life. It was seen as a way for Maori to gain independence and to have representation equal to the Britons’ Queen Victoria. One M?ori chief in particular, P?tatau Te Wherowhero, was pursuaded to take on the role of the first native monarch of New Zealand.

By the time he agreed to become king, P?tatau was an elderly man. He reigned for only two years before he passed away. He was succeeded by his son T?whiao, whose reign lasted 34 years. T?whiao reigned in what is said to be the most difficult time in Maori history: the white European (P?keh?) population was growing, and the Maori population was in decline. Would the Maori lose their identity?

T?whiao was a deeply religious and peaceful man, who knew that to fight the colonial power was to fight a losing battle. He did state however that the Maori would reclaim their country one day and justice would prevail for the invasion they suffered.

His family, along with his heir Mahuta T?whiao, isolated themselves from the rest of New Zealand by moving further into “King Country” away from Europeans. Mahuta T?whiao grew up with little English and remained a staunch Maori traditionalist.

Mahuta T?whiao established the King Movement’s first courts of law. Through this newly established law and order during his reign, along with a series of deals made with Colonial heads, Mahuta T?whiao regained partial authority for the Maori, who by this time had lost acres and acres of land and much of their power. It was a foot in the door for more to come.

Mahuta’s son, Te Rata, was the most suitable candidate to succeed his father. Te Rata was knowledgable in P?keh? affairs and it was felt that this would help his fellow Maori to better understand European custom. It would also help them regain more independence.

After his death in 1933, Te Rata was succeeded by his son Koroki. At first, it did not seem as though Koroki would succeed him. Like Tsar Nicolas of Russia, Koroki was nervous of the thought of being king and did not feel that he was up to the task. He pleaded to be removed from the line of succession. Koroki’s other major concern was his people - they were so poor, how could they afford to support a king? he thought.

Koroki was outnumbered. At the tangihanga (funeral) for his father, it was agreed by all the visiting chiefs that the Kingitanga should continue and strive to prosper with Koroki as leader. He would not be completely alone in his duties - his senior uncles helped rule and gave him valuable input. Since Koroki’s role was to be a representative, his life was always full of official visits from other royalty, prime ministers, the governor-general, and - most crucially - ministers of the British Crown.

When not engulfed in a flurry of official duties, Koroki could be found mucking in with his people and helping them in their work. It was said the he could usually be found in his overalls, working in a large garden and growing food for his people when times were hard. Koroki supported those who were widowed, orphaned, and desperately poor. He met with elders and attended many tribal meetings and functions. Koroki was truly a man of the people, a trait passed to his daughter, Princess Piki. Throughout the 1950s, King Koroki, as dutiful as ever, remained informed on indigenous issues though he had to retire from public life due to declining health.

Te Ata, the Queen of the Maori upon the death of her father, led her people admirably. She enjoyed much respect from her Maori people and indeed all New Zealanders, and was very politically astute. Te Ata was admired most for her determination that indigenous and European alike should have good relations. Like her predecessor, King T?whiao, she was a peaceful person who knew that divisions and fighting led to nothing.

Te Ata’s influence on the Tainui Waka confederation (the four Maori tribes) was felt when, in 1995, the confederation was able to reach a settlement with the British Crown over the annexation of land. New Zealand’s first major land claim settlement was then signed by the Maori Queen for NZ$170 million on behalf of a tribe that had lost nearly a million acres of land.

Turangawaewae marae is the formal seat of the Maori King movement. In December 1953, the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh made their first state visit. This visit was seen as a reconciliation between the British Crown and the Maori, whose King Movement had by this time been well-established. With Te Ata at the helm, the Maori truly had a representative on par with the British Queen.

Te Ata became Dame Te Ata when she was bestowed with the Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1970. She was also one of the first to be given the Order of New Zealand when it was established in 1987.

Coming to a Close

Te Ata rarely gave interviews, but decided to do so in 2003 to talk about the future of the King Movement. Te Ata gave the strong impression that, out of her seven children, one of her sons would be chosen.

Like Queen Victoria, who once stated that having a King was the ‘natural order of things’, Te Ata said, “My feeling at the moment is that the people are ready for a male heir to take over.”

Te Ata’s son, the current King Tuheitia Paki, even shares a birthday with Queen Elizabeth II. He was born on Elizabeth’s April 21st birthday in 1955, a few short years after her coronation. He is the seventh monarch in the line.

The people are ready for a king, but still adore their Queen whom they deeply miss. However, King Tuheitia is said to be a strong leader who places great importance on education and Maori identity. Tuheitia has even met with members of Pacific Royal families, such as Hawaii and Tonga, to declare unity and shared ideals.

There is even a Maori in the British Royal Family - Lady Davina Windsor, a daughter of the Duke of Gloucester, married a Maori man named Gary Lewis. He is the first Maori in any sitting royal family.
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Thank you to:
Dr. Noel Cox
Wikipedia
http://www.monumentalstories.gen.nz/bio_65.html
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/timeline&new_date=23/5
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/08/16/asia/web.0816queen.php
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/413551/815903