“Kaua e aroha mai ki a ahau, me aroha koutou ki a koutou. Ki te aroha koutou ki a koutou, e aroha tahi mai ana ki a ahau."
This week marked 54 years since the passing of Kiingi Koroki Te Rata Mahuta Taawhiao Pootatau Te Wherowhero. We look back at his life and the 1999 Koroneihana, in his honour which marked 33 years since Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu was appointed Queen and Leader of the Kiingitanga on the death of her father.
Kiingi Koroki
"Te Mana Motuhake o ngaa Waka katoa"
Born 16 June 1906
Crowned 8 October 1933
Died 18 May 1966
Koroki Te Rata Mahuta Tawhiao Potatau Te Wherowhero was the elder of two sons of Te Rata, the fourth Maori King, of Ngaati Mahuta. His mother was Te Uranga of Ngaati Koroki and he was named for the eponymous ancestor of her people. Their daughter, Piki, later to take her mother's name, was born in July 1931. They adopted Robert Te Kotahi Mahuta, in 1939. Koroki and his family lived at Waahi Paa.
His first major appearance was at the celebrations held at Waitangi in 1934 to mark Governor-General Lord Bledisloe’s gift of what is now known as the Waitangi Treaty grounds. Koroki led thousands of visitors onto the grounds.
His first recorded public speech was on 18 March 1938 at the opening of Turongo meeting house at Turangawaewae. At Turangawaewae he entertained Allied officers during the Second World War, and other important visitors, including a young Queen Elizabeth in 1953. It is said that he was up much of the night encouraging the people in their work readying the marae for her visit. Queen Elizabeth returned the hospitality by gifting the Chrysler she arrived in to the Te Wherowhero royal household.
As Kiingi Koroki got older he was beset by health problems and looked to others such as his wife, adviser and scholar Pei Te Hurinui Jones and carver Piri Poutapu to represent him. Under the guidance of Te Puea, Princess Piki also took an increasingly prominent role as a representative of the Kiingitanga. King Korokii died at Ngaruawahia on 18 May 1966.
Piki was crowned as Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu a few hours before Koroki's burial on 23 May 1966.
[credits: Waka Huia / TVNZ / Ngaa Taonga / Archives NZ]