New Maori queen of New Zealand is Catholic

The Maori people, the indigenous population of mainland New Zealand, have crowned a new queen after the death of their king, and she is Catholic.

King Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII died on August 30, aged 69. His death came days after his 18th anniversary as king of the Kingshipalso known as the Māori king movement, founded in 1858 to unite Māori under a single sovereign. It is one of the oldest political organizations in New Zealand.

The late king’s youngest daughter, Nga Wai hono i te po, was named his successor, aged 27. She made her first appearance as queen on September 5 and took her place on the throne near her father’s coffin.

Queen Nga Wai hono i te po is the second Maori queen. The first was her grandmother, Queen Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.

According to CathNews New Zealandit was Queen Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu who requested that her granddaughter be baptized by the late Auxiliary Bishop of Hamilton, Mgr Max Takuira Matthew Mariu, the first Maori Catholic bishop.

The late queen’s intention in baptizing her granddaughter was not only to unite the Maori tribes near the Waikato and Whanganui rivers, but also to be a unification of faiths, bridging the gap between the Kingitanga movement and the Catholic Church.

The new queen’s name, Ngawai Hono ki Parakino, which translates to “Union of the Rivers” in Maori, was inspired by the symbolism of her baptism.

Queen Ngawai Hono ki Parakino becomes the eighth Māori monarch, continuing the direct lineage of the first Māori king.

Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in CNA.