Nga Wai Hono i le Po, the youngest child and only daughter of the late King Tuheitia, has been elected as the eighth Māori monarch in September 2024, continuing a royal lineage that began with the first King, Pōtatau Te Wherowhero. Crowned during her father’s tangihanga (funeral), Nga Wai’s ascension followed a traditional selection process by a council of chiefs. The ceremony, known as The Ehakawahinga, saw her raised to the throne amidst chants, screams, and shouts of acclamation.

King Tuheitia, who passed away last week, lay in state for six days, with his body surrounded by rites, prayers, and chants. Nga Wai, wearing a headdress of leaves, a cloak, and a whale bone necklace, sat beside her father’s coffin during the proceedings.

Māori cultural adviser Karaitiana Taiuru expressed the significance of her appointment, emphasizing the Māori community’s desire for younger leadership, especially as Indigenous peoples face challenges like artificial intelligence, genetic modification, and global warming. Taiuru stated, “The Māori world has been yearning for younger leadership to guide us in the new world.”

Nga Wai holds a Master of Arts in Tikanga Māori from Waikato University and bears a traditional moko tattoo, which she received in 2016 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of her father’s coronation. Despite the largely ceremonial nature of the Māori monarch, her role holds immense cultural significance, symbolizing Māori identity and unity, especially in the face of ongoing social and health disparities faced by Māori in New Zealand.