“The death of King Tuheitia is a moment of great sadness,” the spokesperson said. “He has passed to the great beyond. Rest in love.”
King Tuheitia, the seventh leader of the Kiingitanga movement founded in 1858 to unite New Zealand’s Maori under a single sovereign, held a position of significant political and symbolic importance, though it had no legal status. The Maori population makes up about 17 percent of New Zealand’s total population, or around 900,000 people.
King Charles III, New Zealand’s formal head of state, expressed his shock at the news. He had recently spoken with King Tuheitia and described the late monarch as a dedicated leader committed to Maori culture and traditions. “My wife and I were profoundly saddened to learn of King Tuheitia’s death,” King Charles said in a statement. “He was deeply committed to forging a strong future for Maori and Aotearoa-New Zealand, a vision he pursued with wisdom and compassion.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon led the tributes, with flags on government and public buildings flown at half-mast. “Today, we mourn,” Luxon said from Tonga, where he was attending the Pacific Islands Forum. “King Tuheitia’s unwavering commitment to his people and his tireless efforts to uphold the values and traditions of the Kiingitanga have left an indelible mark on our nation.”
Luxon praised Tuheitia’s dedication to New Zealand and his efforts to promote dignity and respect for all. Tuheitia, who succeeded his mother, Queen Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, in 2006, was a powerful advocate for Maori issues, particularly regarding the country’s colonial past and the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi.
In March, Tuheitia had called for whales to be granted legal rights to ensure their protection, reflecting his commitment to preserving Maori heritage and environmental stewardship.
Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also paid tribute on Instagram, noting King Tuheitia’s advocacy for fairness, justice, and prosperity. “You worked tirelessly to build understanding of our shared history and to strengthen Aotearoa,” she wrote. “Rest easy now.”
