Kīngi Tuheitia: Proceedings confirmed for tomorrow's funeral, Te Whakawahinga
As Kīngi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII is laid to rest tomorrow, his funeral service promises to be a historic, poignant event.
A ceremony to anoint his successor will also be held in the hours before Kīngi Tuheitia is laid to rest.
Here is what to expect from the occasion.
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Te Whakawahinga – the raising up ceremony for the new Māori monarch
The anointment of a Māori monarch is steeped in ritual and ceremony. Known as Te Whakawahinga, or ‘the raising up’, this ceremony will take place ahead of the final funeral service for Kīngi Tuheitia.
The Kiingitanga has revealed the ceremony will start tomorrow at 10am where the Tekau-mā-rua (King’s advisory council) will “usher the new Maaori monarch to the throne”.
Karakia is heavily involved and includes traditional Māori takutaku and Christian prayers. Parts of the ceremony are shielded from those present due to the sacredness of the proceedings.
The Māori monarch does not wear a crown. Instead, the placing of a Bible over their head by Te Tumuaki o Te Kiingitanga [the Kingmaker] is seen as the moment of 'crowning'.
Hone Taamihana holds the role of Te Tumuaki and he will be using the same Bible that his ancestor, Wiremu Taamihana, used to raise up the first Māori King, Pootatau Te Wherowhero, in 1858.
The Anglican Archbishop Don Tamihere will then bless the new monarch with sacred oils.
From marae to maunga – final funeral service and tangi procession
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The final funeral service for Kīngi Tuheitia will take place immediately after Te Whakawahinga.
He will then be taken from the marae to the banks of the Waikato River, guided by a guard of honour made up of haukāinga Ngāti Māhanga and the New Zealand Defence Force.
The King will be placed on the waka Tātahi Ora, and three other waka – Waikura, Tākitumu and Te Tīmatanga - will accompany him in a river procession to Taupiri Maunga.
The journey on the river from the marae to Taupiri is around 10km and is expected to take up to two hours.
Burial
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Once the fleet of waka arrive at Taupiri Maunga, the King will be handed over into the care of members of the Taniwharau and Tūrangawaewae Rugby League Clubs, and rope handlers from the Raungaiti Rugby Club who will carry him to his final resting place at the summit of the mountain.
Return to Tūrangawaewae Marae
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Following the burial, the Tekau-mā-rua will lead the Whare Ariki (Members of the Royal House) back on to Tūrangawaewae Marae. A hākari will then take place to conclude the tangihanga of Kīngi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII.
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TVNZ1, 1News.co.nz and TVNZ+ will have live coverage of proceedings from 9.30am tomorrow.
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Note: The use of double vowels in this article reflects the dialect used by the Kiingitanga/Kīngitanga which uses double vowels (aa, ee, ii, oo, uu) in place of macronised vowels (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū).
Glossary
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Te Whakawahinga – ceremony to “raise up” the new Māori monarch
takutaku – reciting of traditional Māori karakia, incantations
Tekau-mā-rua – King’s advisory council
Te Tumuaki o Te Kiingitanga – known as the Kingmaker role, the person who holds the hereditary title is tasked with placing the Bible over the head of the new monarch during Te Whakawahinga
maunga – mountain
haukāinga – local people
waka – canoe
Whare Ariki – Royal House
hākari – feast
tangihanga – funeral
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www.1news.co.nz...
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THE ORNAMENTAL BRICK COTTAGE (corner Trafalgar & Manukau)
Corner called Robin's Corner after grocers shop there.
Passengers on all types of conveyances, Horse drawn bus from the late 1870's, then Electric trams from 1903 to 1956, and Diesel and Trolley buses from 1956, down to the present day, evinced an absorbing interest in the brick cottage which stood in Trafalgar Street, adjacent to Manukau Road, Onehunga.
The neat appearance, clean and wholesome, looking as though it was hosed down every day of its existence, was the subject of much speculation of latter day viewers. There were to be found in the ranks of the historians of Onehunga, some who said that the pretty little cottage had been built by a New Zealand Royal Fencible in the 1847-56 period. Others, however, considered it was erected by a discharged Fencible in the 1860s. Some said it was erected by the Government for the senior-sergeant of Fencibles stationed in Onehunga.
All conjectures of the would-be-pundits led to a private investigator delving into the old records to answer an inquiry directly submitted to the Onehunga Borough Council by an Arts Diploma holder of the Elam School of Arts. The Town Clerk, the late Mr. Norman L. Norman ascertained from a reliable source that the brick cottage stood on a part allotment of land which belonged to John Beattie, a Fencible, ex¬ Royal Marines, who came to New Zealand with the Fifth Division of pensioners on the troopship "Berhampore" arriving at Auckland on June, 16th, 1849. The original grant of a contracted area of land, something greater than one acre, situated at the corner of Manukau Road and Trafalgar Street, was issued to John Beattie in 1856. The corner, thereafter, was known as Beattie's Corner, and retained this appellation until Mr. J. Robins built his store in the late 1880's on a site opposite to John Beattie's acre, when the name was Robin's corner, supplanting Beattie's Corner.
The purchaser of the section on which the cottage stood was Thomas Henry Massey, believed to be a Midlander from England. Massey was noted for his flair for artistic construction in brick and it is said that he was responsible for the design of the facades of the Branches erected by the Auckland Savings Bank in Newmarket and Onehunga in 1885.
The house in Trafalgar street, with a chimney at either end, its slate roof and white stone ornamental facings, was an object of interest to local residents and horse drawn bus passengers as well, while it was being erected.
The bricks were made at Avondale to Massey's specifications, and any that did not measure up to the standard required by the builder were rejected.
The actual year in which the cottage was built is not recorded in archives of the Borough Council. But two residents who were asked about 30 years ago, (1934) to fix a year which would be approximately correct, said that the cottage was occupied by Thomas Massey in 1878.
The edifice being finished off at the present moment is a bit different from what was originally there as described above.
The Greater Atua - Day 8
In Māori culture, atua refers to spiritual beings, ancestors, or gods that embody and oversee the forces of nature and the universe. Atua can represent elements like the sea, forests, sky, or even concepts such as peace or war. They are often linked to whakapapa (genealogy) and are seen as guardians and kaitiaki (caretakers) of their respective domains.
For example:
Tāne-mahuta: Atua of the forests and birds.
Tangaroa: Atua of the sea and marine life.
Ranginui: Atua of the sky (Sky Father).
Papatūānuku: The Earth Mother.
Hine-nui-te-pō: Atua of death and the underworld.
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In the sacred realms of Te Ao Māori, Tāne-mahuta (the atua of forests and birds) and Tangaroa (the atua of the sea) once had a disagreement. Each believed their mana (prestige) and influence over the natural world made them the greatest among the atua. Their debate grew heated, and to settle the matter, Io Matua Kore, the supreme being, appeared in the form of an unending pou (pillar).
Io proclaimed, "Whoever can reach either the top or the base of this pou will prove their greatness." Tāne-mahuta transformed into a hawk, soaring high into the skies to find the top, while Tangaroa shifted into a great taniwha and dove deep into the ocean to find the base.
Days turned into nights, and neither Tāne-mahuta nor Tangaroa could find the end of the pou. Tāne-mahuta’s wings grew tired as he flew higher and higher, and Tangaroa's strength waned as he swam deeper and deeper into the dark, cold depths of the moana (ocean). Eventually, both returned to the base of the pou, exhausted but determined to share their experiences.
Tāne-mahuta, embodying his role as kaitiaki (guardian), spoke the truth. "No matter how far I flew, I could not see the top of the pou. Its height is beyond comprehension, just as Io's wisdom and power are limitless."
Tangaroa, however, in his eagerness to prove his superiority, falsely claimed that he had touched the bottom of the pou. To support his claim, he called upon a kahawai (a fish) to nod in agreement. Io, knowing the truth, rebuked Tangaroa for his dishonesty and the kahawai for blindly supporting a lie.
As a result of his deceit, Tangaroa was told that while he would continue to command the respect of the seas, the realm of the skies and land would belong to Tāne-mahuta. The kahawai was cursed to be hunted endlessly by birds and humans alike, a reminder of the cost of blind allegiance to falsehoods. Tāne-mahuta, for his honesty and humility, was praised, and his forests and birds would be revered across the land.
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Moral of the Story
The story teaches us that truth and humility are greater than pride and deception. Greatness comes not from self-proclaimed superiority but from being steadfast in honesty and embracing one’s role as a kaitiaki. It also serves as a reminder that blindly following falsehoods can lead to consequences, just as the kahawai learned. In the Māori world, living with integrity and honouring the interconnectedness of all atua ensures balance and harmony in life.
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️