Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu

Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu reigned for over 40 years as the leader of the Maori King Movement, Te Kingitanga. She succeeded her father, Koroki, on 23 May 1966.

On 15 August 2006 came the sad news that she had passed away. Six days later her eldest son, Te Arikinui Tuheitia Paki, was confirmed as her successor.

E te Arikinui, Te Atairangikaahu
Queen, Te Atairangkaahu

Te mokopuna o te motu, te whaea o te whenua
The grandchild of the region, the mother of the land

Moe mai i te poho o te tupuna whare, Mahinaarangi,
Rest in peace in the bosom of the ancestral home, Mahinaarangi

I te whakaharahara o tou marae rongonui, Turangawaewae.
In the magnificence of your well-known marae, Turangawaewae

Moe mai i raro i te mauri o te maungatapu o Taupiri
Rest in peace in the spirit of your sacred mountain, Taupiri

E hoe tou waka tapu i runga i tou awa, Waikato
Guide your sacred waka gracefully over the waters of Waikato

E ki a nei te korero
As the saying goes

Waikato taniwharau, he piko he taniwha, he piko he taniwha
Waikato of a hundred bends and on every bend a chief

Haere atu ra e te ariki i nga kapua e rere ki tua
Farewell te Arikinui, on the clouds that speed you beyond

Mai nga tohu-a-Maori hei piata mai
Bypassing the many symbols of Maoridom that shine upon your journey

Te whakamohio te huarahi tika, huarahi pai
To ensure your journey is straight and true

Hei kawe nei tou tira ki tera wahi o tatou
Carrying you to that everlasting place

Ki hawaiki nui, hawaiki roa, hawaiki pamamao
To the big hawaiki, the long hawaiki, the hawaiki far away

Te hono I wairua
Where the spirits meet

Rire rire ... paimarire.
Farewell.

Turongo House, Ngaruawahia

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