Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu
A DigitalNZ Story by Zokoroa
A pictorial tribute to Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu who became the first Māori Queen on 23 May 1966
Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, Maori Queen, Kingitanga, Royalty, Queen
Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu (1931 - 2006) became the sixth Māori monarch and first Māori Queen on 23 May 1966.
Born Pikimene Korokī Mahuta at Waahi Pā on 23 July 1931, she was the eldest child of Korokī, of Ngāti Mahuta and Ngāti Korokī, and Te Atairangikaahu, of Ngāti Apakura and Ngāti Maniapoto. Her father succeeded her grandfather to become the fifth Māori King, when Piki (as she became known) was two. When her father, King Korokī, died on 18 May 1966, Princess Piki was chosen as his successor during his tangi. She assumed her mother’s name, Te Atairangikaahu. In 1970, Te Atairangikaahu became the first Māori woman to be made a Dame of the British Empire when she was invested by Queen Elizabeth II.
Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu celebrated the 40th anniversary of her koroneihana (coronation) in May 2006. Shortly afterwards, she died on 15 August 2006 at her official residence, Turangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia. Her reign was the longest of any Māori monarch.
23 May 1966: Koroneihana (coronation) of Te Atairangikaahu
Coronation of Te Atairangikaahu, 1966
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
In 1970, Te Atairangikaahu became the first Māori woman to be made a Dame of the British Empire
Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
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6 April 1964: Princess Piki (later Te Arikinui, Queen Te Atairangikaahu)
Dr Maharaia Winiata memorial unveiling. Mrs Winiata, Princess Piki & David Winiata.
Tauranga City Libraries
On 18 May 1966, Māori King Korokī died & Piki was crowned as his successor a few hours before his burial on 23 May
Burial on Taupiri mountain
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Princess Piki was the first woman chosen to lead the Kīngitanga (the Māori King movement).
Kīngitanga flags: the flag of Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
23 May 1966: 'Coronation of first Māori Queen' - Article by NZHistory
Coronation of first Māori Queen
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
31 May 1969: Opening of new wharenui at Hangarau Marae
Opening of new wharenui at Hangarau marae: on the paepae
Tauranga City Libraries
12 July 1969: Presenting a carved gateway to No. 41 Squadron, to commemorate its 25th Anniversary, at Huntly Marae
JSPRO358-69
Air Force Museum of New Zealand
1974: With her husband Whatumoana Paki (whom she'd married in 1952 & had 7 children) and Queen Elizabeth II
Te Atairangikaahu, 1974
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
1975: Visiting New Delhi during her first official tour to Britain at the invite of the British Government
Queen Te Ātairangikaahu in New Delhi, 1975
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
10 Nov 1975: At Te Awamutu Museum
Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu and Mayor Ned Freeman
Te Awamutu Museum
11 Feb 1978: Official opening of Whitiora Bridge spanning the Waikato River at Boundary Rd in Hamilton
Te Arikinui & Mayor Ross Jansen opening Boundary Road Bridge
Hamilton City Libraries
8 Dec 1979: Official opening of Waharau Regional Park
The Māori Queen opens Waharau Regional Park, 1979
Auckland Libraries
ca. 20 July 1982
Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu - Photograph taken by Merv Griffiths
Alexander Turnbull Library
On 6 Feb 1987, became a founding member of the Order of New Zealand (Group photo of members in 1990)
Order of New Zealand members, 1990
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
1991: Video of Dame Te Atairangikaahu dancing at Tūrangawaewae marae during 25th Koroneihana (coronation celebrations)
Koroneihana, 1991
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Oct 1995: At Manukau to honour the role models who had become official promoters of Māori Language Year.
Māori Queen, Manukau City Centre, 1995
Auckland Libraries
20 Oct 1995: At Parliament witnessing the enactment of the Waikato Tainui land settlement
The Maori Queen, and her husband, in the public gallery of Parliament, Wellington, to witness the enactment of the Waikato Tainui land settlement -...
Alexander Turnbull Library
3 Nov 1995: At Government House
Dame Te Atairangikaahu and Waikato settlement
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
19 Feb 1998: Aotearoa Traditional Māori Performing Arts Festival (later named Te Matatini) at Trentham Racecourse
Aotearoa Traditional Māori Performing Arts Festival; Māori Queen and supporters.
Upper Hutt City Library
19 Feb 1998: At the Mayoral welcome at the Festival
Aotearoa Traditional Māori Performing Arts Festival; mayoral welcome
Upper Hutt City Library
Jan 2005: At the opening of Kopinga Marae
Kopinga marae opening
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
On 15 Aug 2006, after an extended period of illness, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu died
New Zealand Herald
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Her six-day tangihanga was held at Tūrangawaewae Marae
Tangi for the Māori queen
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
She was conveyed by her tribal waka (canoe) Tumanako down the Waikato River to the sacred mountain Taupiri Kuao
New Zealand Herald
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
TV coverage of her tangihanga on August 21 which more than 430,000 people watched (9:14 mins)
Tangi for Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu
NZ On Screen
Portrait by Ida Harriet Carey which was exhibited at the Waikato Museum in 2006 on the occasion of her passing
Portrait Of Maori Queen Dame Te Atairangikaahu
Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato
Find out more:
- Rāhui Papa and Paul Meredith. 'Te Atairangikaahu Korokī Te Rata Mahuta Tāwhiao Pōtatau Te Wherowhero', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 2018. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/6t4/te-atairangikaahu-koroki-te-rata-mahuta-tawhiao-potatau-te-wherowhero
- 'Coronation of first Māori Queen', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/coronation-first-maori-queen, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 20-Jan-2021
- Wikipedia: "Te Atairangikaahu" (last edited 14 May 2023) , URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Atairangikaahu