Tuheitia

Tuheitia is the eleventh Māori King of the Kīngitanga, the Maori King Movement in New Zealand. He has reigned since 2006, succeeding Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu. He is a member of the Waikato-Tainui iwi and a descendant of the Kīngitanga line that began with Pōtatau Te Wherowhero in the 1850s. The King’s role is largely ceremonial: he serves as a unifying figure for iwi, presides over traditional ceremonies, and represents Maori interests in relations with the New Zealand government and international Maori organizations. The royal residence is Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawāhia, a central site for Kīngitanga events. The Koroneihana, or coronation anniversary celebration, is held there each year.

Tuheitia’s activities emphasize social development, health, education, and language and cultural revival, along with treaty settlements and tribal advocacy. He engages in ceremonies marking whakapapa, marae protocols, and intertribal diplomacy, and often speaks on issues affecting Maori communities.

The king’s family background is linked to the royal line, and he continues a tradition of leadership that articulates Maori perspectives in national conversations about heritage, language, and governance. The Kīngitanga remains a distinct institution within New Zealand’s constitutional framework, with the King acting as a symbolic leader rather than a political sovereign.