Shock as sons overlooked for the crown in favour of surprise choice after Maori King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII dies in New Zealand

Maori leaders have crowned the 27-year-old daughter of their late former king, in a surprise choice seen as a symbol of change for the country.

Thousands of people celebrated the anointing of Nga Wai Hono i te po Paki in an emotional ceremony on New Zealand’s North Island.

She is the only daughter and youngest child of 69-year-old Maori King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, who died in his sleep last Thursday while recovering from heart surgery.

Nga Wai Hono i te po Paki is the second ever Maori queen during the eight monarchies of the Kiingitanga movement, dating back to 1858.

However, the election of Queen Nga Wai came largely unexpectedly, as many had assumed that one of the king’s two sons would lead the movement.

It is said that one of Queen Nga Wai’s older brothers took over many of his father’s ceremonial duties during his periods of illness.

“It’s certainly a break from traditional Maori leadership appointments, where the appointment is typically passed on to the eldest child, usually a boy,” Maori cultural adviser Karaitiana Taiuru told AFP.

Mr Taiuru said it was a “privilege” to witness the young Queen’s appointment, especially given the growing challenges facing the Maori community.

Queen Nga Wai is the only daughter of the late King Tuheitia, who died last week at the age of 69

“The Maori world is hungry for young leadership to lead us into the new world of AI, genetic modification, global warming and a time of many other societal changes that challenge and threaten us and New Zealand’s indigenous people,” he said.

She was chosen by the council of chiefs and ascended a high wooden throne on Thursday morning (local time), the last day of Kiingi Tuheitia’s seven-day funeral.

Nga Wai was led to the throne in the small town of Ngaruawahia, dressed in a wreath, cloak and baleen necklace. She was reportedly flanked by shirtless, chanting Maori men carrying ceremonial weapons.

Her traditional ‘moko’ chin tattoo, which is seen during ceremonies, was done in 2016 to mark her father’s coronation anniversary.

Queen Nga Wai then took part in her father’s final funeral rites after the ascension ceremonies.

She sat next to his coffin on a carved war canoe, steered by 21 men.

A fleet of smaller, traditional canoes, each manned by a dozen rowers, took them down the Waikato River.

The coronation took place on the last day of the funeral of the late Maori king

Kiingi Tuheitia’s coffin was rowed and carried to the top of a sacred site, Mount Taupiri

The procession stopped at the foot of the sacred Mount Taupiri, where players from three rugby teams carried Kiingi Tuheitia’s coffin, dressed in feather cloaks, up the steep mountain to the summit.

The events marked the end of a week-long tangihanga (funeral ritual) for the leader, who in recent months had called on New Zealand’s indigenous people to unite in a political culture increasingly divided by racism.

Kiwi leaders cheered the election of Queen Nga Wai.

New Zealand Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said the torch had been passed “from one legendary unifier to another”.

“Kuīni Ngā Wai Hono i te po Paki has an incredible wealth of mātauranga Māori, a love of Toi Māori and a commitment to caring for her people,” he said, according to Stuff.

“As the youngest child of Kiingi Tūheitia and Te Makau Ariki Atawhai, Kuīni Ngā Wai Hono i te po Paki follows an incredible and historic legacy before her from predecessors who helped shape and influence the cultural identity of Aotearoa New Zealand as a nation,” Hipkins said.

‘The Maori world is hungry for younger leadership,’ says Maori cultural advisor

Thursday was the final day of a week-long trial attended by tens of thousands

Former Maori King Kiingi Tuheitia (pictured above) died in his sleep after heart surgery

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the new queen would bring “hope”.

“We welcome Upoko Ariki, Ngawai Hono i te po, who continues the mantle of leadership left by her father. The path ahead is illuminated by the great legacy of Kiingi Tuheitia,” he said in a statement.

The Maori monarchy was founded in 1858 and aimed to be a unifying movement for all Maori tribes.

Queen Nga Wai’s grandmother, Queen Te Arikiniui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, was the only Maori queen to hold this position before, holding the position for over forty years.

Queen Nga Wai studied Maori language and customary law at Waikato University in Hamilton, North Island. She has worked as a teacher of traditional Maori performing arts.