DAME TE ATAIRANGAKAAHU

1931 - 2006

A week of mourning has begun in New Zealand for the Maori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, ONZ, DBE who died at her official residence Turongo, late Tuesday afternoon after a long battle with kidney disease. She was 75.
She was the sixth and longest serving monarch of Waikato's King Movement, but over the past four decades of her reign her status and influence extended well beyond the Maori community into the national affairs of the whole country.
From shop assistant and farmer's wife, to mother, grandmother and much-loved Maori monarch, it was quite a journey during often turbulent times for Maoridom in New Zealand over the past 40 years.
Dame Te Ata was proud of the positive changes she had seen for her people in that time.
"New alliances and friendships have been formed," she said.
"The people have organised for their language, health and tribal affairs. Many more of our young people are making great strides in education, entering the trades and professions and creatively organising for their own employment."
Dame Te Ata succeeded her father King Koroki as the sixth leader of the Waikato-Tainui Kingdom - which was established in the 19th century in an attempt to end tribal conflict and unite Maori against further land sales to the European settlers.
"The founding King Potatau worked hard to achieve unity between the tribes and ... at all levels from storekeepers and settlers to the Governor himself, and that is a tradition that has supported me over these years."
Dame Te Ata was a tireless advocate for her people, its culture and its language.
Her reign has coincided with a resurgence of Maori to the point where it is officially the second language in New Zealand.

Dame Te Ata is lying in state at the Turangawaewae Marae, Ngaaruawahia, before her burial on August 21st alongside her ancestors on Taupiri, the sacred mountain of the Waikato where all the paramount chiefs are buried.