Celebrating Te Reo Māori in Honour of Kiingi Tuheitia

Te Ātārangi Whakapūmau

Honouring Kiingi Tuheitia, Celebrating Ngā Manu Kōrero and Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2024, and Welcoming Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po.

Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi is committed to preserving and promoting Te Reo, mātauranga Māori, tikanga, and culture. The recent passing of Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu VII and the anointment of his daughter, Kūini Nga wai hono i te po, marks another poignant moment in our history. These events call for deep reflection on our identity and the path forward.

As Aotearoa celebrates the 59th Anniversary of Ngā Manu Kōrero and enters Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 2024, we invite Professor Taiarahia Black, a respected Te Reo Māori orator and academic, to share his reflections on how these profoundly significant events highlight the enduring relevance of Te Reo, mātauranga Māori, tikanga, and culture.

Tangi o te ngākau

Nau mai tātau katoa me te whakaaro nui tonu ki o tātau mate huhua kua hīkoi atu nei ki te tāheke roa o tangi tawhiti, o tangi tata, o tangi whakaora o te kupu. Ē moe koutou katoa au te pō, au te awatea. 

Kupu whakamihi

Ko te reo kōrero tēnei o Te Ātārangi Whakapūmau e kao mai ana i ēnei whakaaro nui, kōputu kōrero o te tangihanga o Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherohwero Te Tuawhitu VII, haere tahi mai me a tātau rangatira, rangatahi o Ngā Manu Kōrero, au tonu atu ki Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, me to tātau parepare, mākahu, whakaruruhau a Kūini Nga wai hono i te po.

Nau mai tātau katoa:

The passing of Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII marks a deep moment in te ao Māori, not only as the loss of a Kingi but as the departure of a steadfast protector of the Māori language. His tangihanga, the embodiment of language, philosophy, wisdom, and leadership transitions alongside the National Ngā Manu Kōrero 2024 in Tāmaki Makaurau; a powerful convergence of two events that highlights the deep and enduring connection between leadership, language, cultural and intellectual continuity. It is through the lens of this tangihanga that the steadfast nature of the Kiingi Tuheitia’s role as guardian and advocate for te reo Māori can be fully appreciated. This convergence intertwines with the rising voices of the rangatahi, the young leaders who have gathered in Tāmaki Makaurau to compete and celebrate the dynamic eloquence and vitality of te reo Māori.

The annual Ngā Manu Kōrero 2024 is in its 59th year, a unifying competition representing the expression of language philosophy and wisdom. It is a platform where this generation and the next generation of rangatahi stand tall, rooted in the knowledge passed down from their tīpuna, kuia, koroua, mātua shaping the future of te reo Māori. This is not a simple coincidence of timing; rather, it is a reflection of the King’s ongoing legacy. Kiingi Tuheitia, much like the regal mantal of his mother Queen Te Ātarangikaahu, has been a figurehead for the revitalisation, protection and maintenance of the Māori language. His presence, spiritual leadership, and influence will be echoed in the very words spoken by the rangatahi during Ngā Manu Kōrero. This event becomes more than a competition; it is an expression of the collective aspiration for language revitalisation and cultural strength, an aspiration fostered and championed by the Māori King and the Kiingitanga movement.

The tangihanga itself, steeped in te reo and tikanga, carries with it the weight of historical whakapapa, proverbial wisdom, and famous quotes. The gathering of whānau, hapū, iwi, and the wider community for such an event is a living example of the values Kiingi Tuheitia held dear. The connection between people, the protection of language, and the safeguarding of tikanga are all evident in the protocols of the tangihanga. In many ways, this event serves as a living manuscript of cultural and intellectual resilience, where the presence of traditional texts, karakia, and proverbs remind us of the legacy left behind by the King. His tangihanga, therefore, becomes a symbolic moment of reflection for the guardianship of language, and leadership both in life and in death.

This confluence of Kiingi Tuheitia’s tangihanga and the Ngā Manu Kōrero competition serves to inspire and unify rangatahi from across the motu. The King’s legacy is one of unifying the people, and this unity is mirrored in the gathering of these young articulate leaders, each representing their kura (schools), rohe (districts) marae, whānau, hapū, and iwi. The voices of these rangatahi are imbued with the wisdom of their tīpuna, and through their speeches, the Māori language finds renewed, respected strength. In the context of the King’s passing, the words spoken by these young leaders become even more significant, symbolising the continuity of the language, its protection and maintenance for future generations.

The timing of these two events, leading into Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 14-21 September 2024 is particularly poignant as a testament to the unwavering spirit of enduring unity. As the nation prepares to celebrate the Māori language, the passing of a great protector of that language cannot be overlooked. The dynamic synergy between the tangihanga, Ngā Manu Kōrero, and Te Wiki o te Reo Māori highlights the enduring relevance of te reo Māori, not just as a tool for communication but as a kākahu (cloak) for identity, spirituality, sovereignty, and scholarship

In this light, the tangihanga of Kiingi Tuheitia is not just an end but a beginning, a reaffirmation of his role as the kaitiaki of the language. His influence will continue to be felt through the words spoken at Ngā Manu Kōrero and throughout Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, where his legacy as the steadfast protector of te reo Māori will be celebrated and remembered.

The King’s passing aligns these profound events into a kākahu of cultural resilience, language, and unity, leaving an indelible mark on the future of te reo Māori and the people.

Language and leadership are therefore the hallmarks of the future. The Kingi’s presence continues; he has passed on to his successor Te Whakawahinga (Anointment) marking the scared ceremonial announcement of Queen Nga wai hono i te po, his beloved daughter as the new Kiingitanga - Māori monarch. The elegant Queen Nga wai hono i te po is the new youthful protector of the Māori language, indeed a profound time for continued unity and celebration. 

Taiarahia Black is Professor of Māori & Indigenous Development, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.