Aue, taukiri e. Kua takoto te tōtara nui o te waonui o Tāne. Te pōuri, te mamae e. E rere ana ngā wai aroha ki te riu o te Waikato, ki ngā iwi o te Rohe Pōtae, ki te nohoanga o te Kiingi Māori ki Ngāruawāhia, ki Turangawaewae Marae.
As the Mayor of Porirua City, I wish to extend our sincere condolences to the family and people of Turangawaewae Marae and Te Rohe Potae upon hearing of the untimely passing of Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII. The Tainui confederation and allegiances to the Māori monarchy reach far and wide around the country, including here in Porirua with Ngāti Toa Rangatira our mana whenua partner whose journey from the Waikato is well known and celebrated in the famed haka of Te Rauparaha.
Tuheitia has been steadfast in holding the mantle of the Māori King, advocating for the wellbeing of his people and publicly calling for a more harmonious, functional, and prosperous partnership with the Crown and the leaders of our nation. Like his name sake Pootatau Te Wherowhero II, Tuheitia followed the sacred vows of aroha, manaaki and kaitiakitanga.
Our thoughts go out to the family, especially Makau Ariki and the children Whatumoana, Korotangi and Ngawai Hono i Te Po.
30 Aug 2024
