Special week for Māori Monarchy - Koroneihana 2022
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII
Did you know that a Māori monarchy exists within Aotearoa? If not, then you’re probably not aware that this is a special week as it’s ‘Te Koroneihana’ (translation of coronation), which marks the reign of the current Māori King; Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII.
Te Koroneihana is a weeklong annual event bringing thousands to Tuurangawaewae Marae ki Waikato, to pay their respects. This year’s celebrations mark the first in-person Koroneihana since 2019 and began on Monday with a karakia to reflect on the passing of the previous monarch – Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
Various activities and events are being hosted throughout this week, including karakia, kapa haka, political debates and the Maaori King’s formal address. The prime minister and MPs will attend on Saturday with the final day of Koroneihana festivities taking place on Sunday.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand is committed to working with Māori as tangata whenua, which means we’re committed to improving our knowledge and awareness of Māori culture and history. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about Te Koroneihana or the Kiingitanga movement, this is a good week for it. We’ve included some sources below to help you get started.
- Roadside Stories: Tūrangawaewae, a place to stand – 4.28min listen
- Māori King movement origins – 10 min read
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/the-maori-king-movement(external link)
- Kīngitanga – the Māori King movement – 15 min read
https://teara.govt.nz/en/kingitanga-the-maori-king-movement/page-1(external link)
Waikato-Tainui are tangata whenua of the Waikato region and they follow the double vowel system. This means instead of using a tohutō (macron) above a vowel to indicate an elongated sound, they use two vowels. For example, instead of Māori, you will see Maaori. This is important to note when reading and writing in relation to Waikato-Tainui kaupapa.