Nga Puhi Iwi leader counter claim against true Nobility

[ras2012]

Maori King Tuheitia has been accused of being a pretender in a claim submitted to the Waitangi Tribunal, with a Northland iwi leader saying he's better known as "King of Huntly".

David Rankin, a leader of the Ngapuhi tribe, is challenging the right of the king - head of the Tainui tribe - to use the title "Maori King" because he is not the king of all Maori.

The Kingitanga was set up in the 1850s to present a united front to British encroachment but involves largely only central North Island tribes, with the king's base in the heart of Tainui's land.

"When he pretends to be our king, then he needs to show his mandate for that or else change his title," Mr Rankin said.

"This is not about what Tuheita wants to call himself. That's his problem. And as far as the Government is concerned, they have no right to use the term 'Maori King'. Tuheitia could be called the King of Huntly, perhaps. I could live with that."

No one from Tainui was available for comment this morning.

Government and Crown agencies compounded the issue, Mr Rankin said, with their use of the title, violating Article Two of the Treaty of Waitangi which guarantees Crown protection for each Maori tribe's sovereignty.

"Government ministers are always calling him the Maori King ... they don't call the King of Tonga the King of Polynesia," Mr Rankin said. "The Government is meant to protect all our sovereign rights. How can the sovereignty of Ngapuhi be protected, if the leader of another tribe is said to be our king? This is clearly a violation of our tino rangatiratanga."

According to Mr Rankin, Ngapuhi had always opposed Kingitanga (the King Movement) from which the King Country takes its name after a bowler hat was thrown onto a North Island map to denote the extent of the kingdom.

"Tuheitia is not a traditional Maori leader at all. He hasn't even got the Reo (Maori language)]. He is someone who pretends to be the King of Maori, which we find offensive." Mr Rankin said other tribes also found the title offensive.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said Mr Rankin had often voiced similar views.

"He's claiming that he's a direct line, but so is half of the north really."

The king was selected following a meeting of iwi and then asked whether those gathered whether he should be king and it was agreed, Mr Sharples said.

"That was as pretty thorough as I can imagine."


have noticed that the concept of the Maori King is not clear in its function and authority. I will try and explain how the organization works and how it is treated throughout Maoridom.

The Maori King movement or Kingitanga was established to attempt to unite Maori against encroaching settlers who were land hungry and had the backing of an aggressive central government administration. Potatau Te Wherowhero although not the first choice for the job, finally accepted after much prompting to accept the role. He was chosen as he was the Upoko Ariki of his tribe and had extensive genealogical links to all the major tribes and their lines of aristocracy.

The catalyst for the establishment of the Kingitanga came as a response to the English Monarchy and was supported by the Biblical precedent of Israel establishing a royal line under King David.

The Maori King although respected throughout Maoridom does not hold a comprehensive pan tribal title or authority. Large tribes such as Ngati Porou have their own Upoko Ariki and aristocracy to draw on. This complex relationship is perfectly summed up in the following article from the Maori magazine Te Ao Hou...or the New World.

(removed)

The institution of the Upoko Ariki or Paramount Chief in English is a strictly hereditary role as personified in Tumu Te Heu Heu of Tuwharetoa and sits within lines of descent from important and often eponymous ancestors such as Porourangi of Ngati Porou and Apanui Waipapa of Te Whanau-a-Apanui. They are supported by the Rangatira who can be of varying degrees of aristocracy. Often they are acknowledged through hard work and the skills they can bring in managing the affairs of the tribe. This is immortalized in the following Maori proverb:

"Ina te mahi, he rangatira."

Which roughly translates as, by his deeds a chief is known.

Basically, Maori society as accurately described above really composes of dozens of separate "nations" with their own lines of Upoko Ariki and Rangatira. The Maori King is one and although he is held in high esteem by most tribes, (as was his mother and predecessor the late Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu) he does not hold (as his title alludes to) a full pan tribal position or title.


Ariki (Chief) Hotu Wai Ariki of the Ngati Parekawaa Hapuu, an up-coming aspiring Iwi leader and hopeful next Maori Kingi, keeper of the faith and protector of the righteous cause.

Haa Ratawharia a IO...