Arrr! A lass of 27 be crowned queen o' the Māori seas! A fine tale for rum and revelry!
2024-09-06
Arrr, me hearties! The great Māori king, Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII, has sailed to Davy Jones' locker at 69 years! Now, his lass, Ngā wai hono i te po, 27, takes the crown—makin' her the second lass to rule! May the seas be ever in her favor!
Avast ye landlubbers! Upon the frosty morn, a throng of mournin’ souls did make their way to the fair town of Ngāruawāhia, clad in sable garb, fern crowns atop their noggins, and fine jade adornments upon their chests. They gathered to pay tribute to the dearly departed Māori king, Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII, who shuffled off this mortal coil after a heart operation, but not before his daughter, Ngā wai hono i te po, took up the royal mantle as the second queen in Māori history!With cheers echoing like cannon fire, the new queen was paraded atop Tūrangawaewae marae, a sight to behold as her father lay in state, swathed in feathered cloaks. The procession sailed down the Waikato River in grand canoes, led by noble Māori warriors, to lay the king to rest. Tūheitia, known more for his humble demeanor than his bluster, had recently rallied his people to unity against a stormy political climate, declaring, “Be Māori! Live our values!”
The ceremony, filled with Māori customs, was a celebration of culture and tradition, with young scallywags like nine-year-old Awa Tukiri proclaiming the joys of the Māori language. As the late king was laid to rest atop the sacred Taupiri Maunga, it was clear that the spirit of the Māori would rise anew with the new queen at the helm!