Indigenous people of New Zealand elect a new queen with facial tattoos: coronation held at the same time as her father's funeral

Nga Wai Hono-i-Te Po Paki, the only daughter and youngest child of former Māori king Tuheitia Puatau To Wesero VII was given the crown by her father. She became the second female ruler during the eight dynasties of the Kinggitanga (king) movement in New Zealand. The Queen's proclamation was celebrated with an emotional ceremony attended by thousands of people.

Nga Wai Hono-i-Te Po Paki came to the throne on the final morning of her father's six-day funeral. Tuheitea died peacefully in his sleep on Aug. 31, at the age of 69 after heart surgery. As per tradition, warriors escorted the boat carrying the monarch's body down the river. The Guardian reports that.

At a Te Vakawahinga (elevation) ceremony in the small town of Ngaruawahia, 27-year-old Nga Wai Hono was elevated to the throne by an advisory council of 12 elders from different tribes who elected her as their queen. The role is not automatically inherited, as the newly crowned royal also has two brothers.

Tekau-Maa-Rua chief Che Wilson said the elevation is an important ceremony that eight generations have gone through: "We emulate the tikanga of our ancestors who created the office to unite and uplift our people, and we have elected Nga Wai Hono as our new monarch." She was anointed with sacred oils and blessed with the sacred book used to crown the first Māori king in 1858.

Nga Wai Hono has an MA in Māori Cultural Studies from the University of Waikato, and she got her chin tattoo (moko Kauae) at the age of 19 as a gift to her father to commemorate the years he spent on the throne. She has been by her dad's side at many events over the past few years, and greeted the news of her coronation in Ngaruawahia with tears and joy.

The title "Maori king" was founded in 1858 as a force opposing colonization and attempting to preserve Maori culture and land. It has no legal mandate, and while the monarch's role is largely ceremonial, he is also considered the paramount chief of several tribes.

Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!