Awanuiārangi Professor Honours Māori Queen with Special Publication

Awanuiārangi Professor Honours Māori Queen with Special Publication 

The sound of haka and trumpets echoed through Kōkōhīnau Marae as Nga wai hono i te po, the Māori Queen, made her historic first visit for an annual Poukai event on Sunday, January 19th, 2025. 

To commemorate this significant occasion, Professor Taiarahia Black of Awanuiārangi launched the bilingual publication titled: 

“Be who we are, live our values, speak our reo, care for our mokopuna, our awa, our maunga, just be Māori, Māori all day, every day.” 

Professor Black explains, “Ngāti Awa Pakeke and Kaumātua of Kōkōhīnau Marae, Hemana Eruere, invited me to write a publication to mark and celebrate this special day. 

“It’s inspired by the late Kiingi Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu’s VII proclamation at the first Kotahitanga Hui, held at Tūrangawaewae Marae in 2024. 

“The publication can offer valuable insights as a teaching resource for Awanuiārangi, and it serves as a meaningful example of how cultural narratives and academic research can come together to acknowledge and uphold significant milestones like this one. 

“It also demonstrates and strengthens the strong connections between Awanuiārangi, Kōkōhīnau, Poukai, Kiingitanga, and Waikato-Tainui stakeholders.” 

Poukai gatherings are a cornerstone of the Kiingitanga movement, established to support Māori communities during hardship, foster whanaungatanga, address collective needs, and strengthen the bond between the Kiingitanga and the people. 

It was officially launched in front of Kōkōhīnau’s Ōruataupare tipuna whare during the Poukai kaupapa kōrero, where Professor Black was invited to speak. The launch concluded with a karakia led by Awanuiārangi Associate Professor Haturini McGarvey. Mokopuna of Kōkōhīnau Marae then presented the first 140 copies to the Māori Queen, the Kiingitanga, and Waikato-Tainui representatives in attendance.