Auckland: After the death of the king of the ancient Maori tribe of New Zealand at the age of 69, his daughter has now become the queen.
Ngawai, 27, was chosen as queen by the council of chiefs of the Maori tribe in a special ceremony on the beautiful island, according to the World News Agency. She is the second queen of the tribe.
New Maori Queen Nga Wai holds a Masters in Maori Cultural Studies from the University of Waikato and has served on a number of boards.
The coronation of the new queen, known as Ta Whakohanga, was performed in front of thousands of people who had gathered for the tangi hanga (funeral and burial) of King Tohtia, said a spokesman for the kengi tunga, or royal family.
Instead of crowning the Queen, Archbishop Don Tamihre placed a Bible on her head, which has been used for this purpose since 1858. A holy oil was applied to the head which was associated with dignity, sanctity, strength and spiritual advancement.
Thousands of people flocked to the King Movement’s rallying point, Tarangavaiva, to bid farewell to the king at a traditional funeral kengi tinga ceremony. After his daughter’s coronation, the King’s coffin was carried by hearse down the Waikato River.
From there the body was brought by a flotilla of traditional Maori waka, or canoes, to Mount Taupiri, where it was buried alongside other members of the royal family and high-profile Maori.
Remember, the Maori Kingdom was established in 1858 to fight colonization and protect Maori culture and homeland.
Although the king is mainly ceremonial and has little official authority, he is still regarded by many tribes as the high chief.
