Māori King Tūheitia dies aged 69

This article first appeared at rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission.
Kīngi Tūheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has died, aged 69, just days after celebrating the 18th anniversary of his coronation.
A statement issued by the office of the Kiingitanga said Tūheitia had been in hospital recovering from heart surgery.
He died peacefully, surrounded by his wife Makau Ariki and their children Whatumoana, Korotangi and Ngawai Hono I Te Po, the statement, dated Friday morning, said.
“The death of Kiingi Tūheitia is a moment of great sadness for followers of Te Kiingitanga, Maaoridom and the entire nation.”
“He kura kua ngaro ki tua o Rangi-whakamoe-ariki. Moe mai raa
(A chief who has passed to the great beyond. Rest in love).”
Tūheitia was expected to lie in state at Turangawaewae Marae for five days.
He would then be taken to his final resting place on Taupiri Mountain, the statement said.
Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII was born Tūheitia Paki in 1955 in Huntly and educated in Waikato and Auckland.
He was crowned on August 21, 2006 following the death of his mother, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
He has been at the forefront of Māori issues and represented the Kiingitanga at a number of events over the years, including the funeral of King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV of Tonga in 2006 and the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in London in 2023.
In 2019, he met with Pope Francis at the Vatican.
Kīingitanga chief of staff Ngira Simmonds told Morning Report the surgery did not go as they had hoped, and Tūheitia passed away peacefully, surrounded by family.
He believed in the vision of his ancestors and understood his role and duties and wanted to bring unity to Māoridom.
“He served to the very last.”
He had a great love for music and kapa haka, and enjoyed the Matatini festival, of which he was patron.
He often travelled around the motu, visiting marae.
Following Cyclone Gabrielle, which devastated parts of the East Coast, he instructed a number of his staff members to travel there and “be the hands and feet” of mana motuhake.
The successor will be decided by a group of leaders within the Kiingitanga movement, Simmonds says.
“It’s not a conquering monarchy; we’re here because we’ve been asked to be here.”
In the next few days, Tainui (the tribes in the Waikato), who look after the Kiingitanga will gather, before being joined by other iwi.
There will be a day set aside for foreign dignitaries.
There will be an election for his successors.
RNZ’s Tumu Māori, Shannon Haunui-Thompson, who attended the tangihanga of the King’s mother, said it could be until the last day of Kīngi Tūheitia’s tangi that a successor would be determined and announced.
“He was a really leading voice in calling for kotahitanga.”
One of his phrases at the hui aa motu was “by Māori, for Māori, be Māori every day”.
Prime Minister Christoipher Luxon said Tūheitia’s unwavering commitment to his people and his tireless efforts to uphold the values and traditions of the Kiingitanga had left “an indelible mark on our nation”. 
“I will remember his dedication to Aotearoa New Zealand, his commitment to mokopuna, his passion for te ao Māori, and his vision for a future where all people are treated with dignity and respect,” Luxon said in a written statement.
“I will also remember the kindness he showed me personally whenever I met with him at Turangawaewae.”
Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters expressed the Government’s condolences on the passing of Kīngi Tūheitia.
“It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of the King, and we express sympathies and prayers to the Kingitanga family and Tainui people.
“The news is especially saddening having only recently marked the Koroneihana celebrations at Turangawaewae,” he said.
Luxon is expected to make a formal statement on Tūheitia’s passing from the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ retreat in Tonga, about 12pm NZ time.