Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu

Tainui

1931 - 2006

She was born as Princess Piki Mahuta at Waahi Pā, the daughter of Koroki Te Rata Mahuta Tawhiao, the fifth Māori King, and Te Atairangikaahu Herangi, and was crowned Māori Queen in 1966 after the death of her father. She attended Rakaumanga Primary School and Hamilton Diocesan School for Girls. She married Whatumoana Paki – a farmer from Huntly in 1952 and they had seven children. In 1970 she was awarded the DBE and became Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu. She received an honorary doctorate from the University of Waikato in 1979. In 1987 she was the recipient of the Order of New Zealand – the highest civilian honour in New Zealand. She was host to the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference in 1990, was patron of the 1990 Commission, and patron of the Te Kōhanga Reo Trust and the Polynesian Society. Dame Te Ata-i-rangi-kaahu was sixth in direct descent from the first Māori King, Potatau, and she reigned for forty years as Māori Queen.

Biographical sources

  • Te Ao Mārama: Regaining Aotearoa: Māori Writers Speak Out. Comp. and ed. Witi Ihimaera. Contributing ed. Haare Williams, Irihapeti Ramsden and D. S. Long. Vol. 2: He Whakaatanga O Te Ao: The Reality. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1993. 213.
  • Crean, Mike. “Royal Reflections.” Christchurch Star 9 May 1992: 12.

    Fiction

  • "Māori Wardens: Definition Of Purpose Needed." Te Māori (Dec./Jan. 1980/1981): 16-17.
  • Taken from an address given to a meeting of the Ngaruawahia Wardens.
  • "1982 National M.W.W.L. Conference: Official Opening of Conference by Dame Te Atairangi Kaahu Monday 10 May 1982 at Huria Marae, Tauranga." Tu Tangata 7 (Aug./Sept. 1982): 27.
  • The text of Dame Te Atairangi Kaahu’s opening speech at the National Māori Women’s Welfare League Conference, in which she discusses the sentiments expressed in the National Anthem "God Defend New Zealand" in respect to Māori/Pakeha relations.
  • Te Tumu Kōrero. Ngaruawahia, N.Z.: The House, 1983.
  • Turongo 1938-88. Ngaruawahia, N.Z.: Turagawaewae Board of Trustees, 1988.
  • The First Twenty-Five Years. Turangawaewae Marae, N.Z.: the Estate of (the late) Te Puea Herangi, 1992.
  • He Rourou Iti: Selected Speeches of Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu. Ed. and introd. Miria Simpson. [Ed. supervision by Jill Brasell with assistance from Whetumarama Mita]. Wellington, N.Z.: Miria Simpson; Daphne Brasell, 1992.
  • A book of selected speeches.
  • "The Closing of Te Māori." He Rourou Iti: Selected Speeches. . Ed. and introd. Miria Simpson. [Ed. supervision by Jill Brasell with assistance from Whetumarama Mita]. Wellington, N.Z.: Miria Simpson; Daphne Brasell, 1992. Rpt in Te Ao Mārama: Regaining Aotearoa: Māori Writers Speak Out. Comp. and ed. Witi Ihimaera. Contributing ed. Haare Williams, Irihapeti Ramsden and D. S. Long. Vol. 2: He Whakaatanga O Te Ao: The Reality. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed, 1993. 212-214.
  • In this speech Dame Te Atairangikaahu spoke of the success of the Te Māori exhibition and payed tribute to all those involved in the preservation of the taonga and despite the lengthy process of planning the exhibition, she called for the ‘inspiring triumphant energy’ of Te Māori to be sustained and perpetuated into the future.
  • "He Kupu Whakatau/Foreword." Te Timatanga Tātau Tātau, Te Rōpu Wāhine Māori Toko I Te Ora: Early Stories from Founding Members of the Māori Women’s Welfare League. As told to Dame Mira Szaszy. Ed. Anna Rogers and Miria Simpson (Wāhanga Māori). [Photographs by Margaret Kāwharu]. Wellington, N.Z.: Māori Women’s Welfare League; Bridget Williams, 1993. vii.
  • Opening with the words of one of her tupuna, Te Atairangikaahu honours and blesses the contributors of this collection in sharing their experiences as members of the Māori Women’s Welfare League.
  • "A Journey Through Time." Mana 40 (2001): 52-53.
  • Excerpt from a speech given at the 35th Coronation anniversary celebrations at Turangawaewae Marae.

    • Non-fiction

  • AGMANZ Journal 17.3 (Spring 1986): 2.
  • Te Atairangikaahu writes of the international acclaim of Te Māori and how it has reminded Māori and all New Zealanders of a ‘great heritage going back centuries’.

    • Other

  • Haggie, Sonya. "Exclusive: Te Arikinui: ‘if you don’t agree, stay home’." New Zealand Woman’s Weekly 5 Feb. 1990: 22-23.
  • Fox, Derek Tini; Iritana Tawhiwhirangi. "Born to be Quen; The Ways of Our Tupuna; Touched People’s Lives." Mana: The Māori News Magazine for All New Zealanders 50 (2003): 45-55.

  • Reviews

  • Ballara, Angela. "Aspects of Māori History." New Zealand Books 2.2 (Sept. 1992): 8.
  • Crean, Mike. "Royal reflections." Christchurch Star 9 May 1992: 12.
  • Ward, Alan. "Distinct But Not Separate." Dominion 30 May 1992: 11.
  • Patterson, Betty (and others). "Non-fiction." New and Notable: Books for the Secondary School Library10.1 (1993): 26-27.

    Other

  • Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu, D.B.E., Hon.D., 23 May 1986. Ngaruawahia, N.Z.: Turangawaewae Board of Trustees, [1986].
  • "A Good Grace." Listener 26 Aug. 2006: 8-10.
  • "A Lifetime of Service." Dominion Post 16 Aug. 2006: B5.
  • Bull, Alistair. "Much Gain But A Great Queen Lost." Dominion Post 2 Jan. 2007: A6.
  • Cardy, Tom; Jeremy Robinson. "Māoridom Mourns Loss of Ambassador; Loved Māori Queen Dies at 75." Southland Times 16 Aug. 2006: 9.
  • Carter, Alison. "A Queen For Today." Listener 12 Aug. 1991: 24-27.
  • "Every Day was Special." Waikato Times 19 Aug. 2006: D1-3.
  • Forbes, Manihera and James McOnie. "Long Lived the Queen; Honouring an Honourable Lady; Goodby Māori Queen." Spasifik 16 (Sept./Oct. 2006): 22+.
  • Fox, Derek. "Te Koroneihana." Mana: The Māori News Magazine for All New Zealanders 70 (2006): 32-34.
  • Fox, Derek et al. [Cover Story]. Mana: the Māori News Magazine for All New Zealanders 72 (2006): 6-26.
  • Gregg, Stacy. "Staying Close to Her People." Sunday Star Times 26 May 1996: C3.
  • Harawira, Te Waiarangi. "Te Arikinui, Te Atairangikaahu 1931-2006." Pu Kaea Sept. 2006: 7.
  • Harvey, Layne. "Te Atairangikaahu – An Incomparable Influence." Pu Kaea Sept. 2006: 6.
  • "He Poroporoaki ki Te Arikinui; He Toa Tauā; Her Legacy – Grace, Wisdom and Visionary Leadership, Te Tairāwhiti Farewells Their Queen; A Day They Will Never Forget; Kingi Tuheitia." Kōkiri Paetae 71 (Oct.-Nov. 2006): 1-3.
  • "Māori Queen’s Hui Starts Today." Dominion 16 May 1991: 13.
  • Marks, Kathy. "Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu: Queen of New Zealand’s Māoris." The Independent. 16 Aug. 2006. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/te-arikinui-dame-te-atairangikaahu-412038.html
  • Metge, Joan. "Poroporoaki for Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 1931-2006." Journal of the Polynesian Society 115.3 (2006): 209-211.
  • Neville, Pam. "Wisdom, Wit and Warmth." New Zealand Woman’s Weekly 20 Apr. 1992: 18-19.
  • Pepperell, Susan. "The People’s Queen." Waikato Times 1 Jan. 2000: 18.
  • Schouten, Hank. "Four Decades of Our Kind Of Queen." Dominion Post 27 May 2006: A15.
  • Remembering Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu 1931-2006. 15 Aug. 2006. http://www.remembering.co.nz/tribute2.asp?remid=179
  • Smith, Matai. "Aku Roimata E Kotokoto Tonu Ana." Pipiwharauroa/Te Runanga o Turanganui a Kiwa 14.8 (Aug. 2006): 11.
  • Stephens, Tainui and Rawiri Taonui. "A Lady for out Time; The Mana of Succession." New Zealand Herald 19 Aug. 2006: B7.
  • Stokes, Jon. "We Live To Serve." New Zealand Herald 20 May 2006: B6.
  • Stokes, Jon. "Modest Start in Life For An Inspirational Leader." New Zealand Herald 16 Aug. 2006: A5.
  • Tahana, Yvonne. "Human Cloak Surrounds Māori Monarch." Waikato Times 16 Jan. 2006: 7.
  • Tahana, Yvonne. "Farewell to the People’s Queen." Waikato Times 16 Aug. 2006: 7.
  • Takerei, Mamae. "He Poroporoaki Ki A Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu DBE." Toi Te Kupu 81 (2006): 8.
  • "Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu." New Zealand Official Yearbook 1993: 109.
  • "Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, 23 July 1931 – 15 August 2006." Te Karaka: The Nga Tahu Magazine 32 (2006): inside front cover.
  • "Te Arikinui Makes Trip To Melanesia." Kia Hiwa Ra: National Māori Newspaper Nov. 1995: 365.
  • "Te ātairangi Kāhu, Te Mokopuna a Te Motu." Pipiwharauroa/ Te Runanga o Turanganui ā Kiwa 14.8 (Aug. 2006): 1.
  • "Tears for Tainui." Waikato Times 16 Aug. 2006: 1.
  • "Tributes flow for Māori Queen." 16 Aug. 2006. http://www.stuff.co.nz/print/0,1478,3766463a8153,00.html