The Passing of Kīngi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu.

Dear friends in Christ,

You may have seen in the news today that Kīngi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu died unexpectedly yesterday. This is a sad day for the Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki, since we have enjoyed a longstanding and enduring friendship with the Kīngitanga over many decades. Te Hāhi Mihinare and previous bishops of Waikato have valued the hospitality of and relationship with both Kīngi Tuheitia and his mother Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu, as well as Kīngi Korokī Te Rata Mahuta, and have always been deeply involved in public prayers at Tūrangawaewae. This is a lifegiving and generic association for us.

 

The first Māori king, Pōtatau te Wherowhero was crowned with a bible in 1858, by the anglican mission paramount chief of Ngāti Hauā, Wiremu Tāmihana, the King Maker and prophet who is commemorated each year in our lectionary.

 

Kiingi Tūheitia is a Southwell old boy and his daughter Te Puhi Ariki Ngāwai Hono i te Pō was a student at Waikato Diocesan School for Girls.  Te Ranga Tiki, chief of staff and private secretary to the King, is Archdeacon Ngira Simmonds. Kiingi Tūheitia is now lying in state at Tūrangawaewae Marae for five days and then he will be buried on the sacred mountain of Taupiri with his ancestors.

 

Keep this Māori royal whānau in your prayers, the whole of the Kahui Ariki and all for whom Kīngi Tūheitia was a symbol of kotahitanga and self determination. Pai mārire. E Te Kiingi, moe mai, moe mai, moe mai i roto i te rangimarie ā Te Ariki.

In prayer on this sad day,

Bishop Philip and Bishop David

Current and former bishops of Waikato and Taranaki

 

Official Notice:

 𝘒𝘶𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘶𝘪𝘢 𝘵𝘦 𝘬𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢 𝘰 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘬𝘶 𝘬𝘪𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘰 𝘪 𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘒𝘶𝘢 𝘬𝘰𝘩𝘪𝘬𝘰𝘩𝘪𝘢 𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘶 𝘰 𝙏𝙚 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙞𝙠𝙞 𝘩𝘦𝘪 𝘪𝘬𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘮𝘢𝘢 𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘪, 𝘮𝘢𝘢 𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘰.

 

Kua riro a Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero Tuawhitu ki te maakohakoha o te poo, ki te maarirerire o te poo. Kua kotahi atu ki a nunui maa, ki a roroa maa i te tau o Paengarau.

 E te Kiingi, pikitia te pane o Te Mata o Tuutonga, pikitia ngaa tihi o Taupiri Kuao. Tirohia ngaa maunga whakahii o te Motu. Purea too hau ki te maarakiraki, horea too hau ki te maatongatonga. Maiangitia too hau ki te raawhiti, whiuwhiua too hau ki te uru. Pareparea too hauhunga ki Te Kaahui Maunga, kia ia rere mai ki te take o Taupiri e tuu nei.

 Whoatu e te Kiingi ki ngoo Waka, ki ngoo Iwi, ki ngoo Hapuu paarangaranga o te Motu.

 Houhia too huarahi ki te poo, mana o te poo, tini o te poo. Te poo taiopeope i te tangata, te poo oopeti i te iwi nui tonu.

 Rukutia te paringa rua o Mooriaanuku, kauria te moana o aake aake kia tau koe ki te taahuna o Rongomaawhitiwhiti, ki te aakau o Hawaiki whakariterite.

 Rire Rire Hau! 𝙋𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚