Nga Wai Hono i te Po is the new Maori Queen of New Zealand after the death of her father.
A new Maori Queen, Nga Wai Hono i te Po, was crowned in New Zealand on Thursday following the death of her father last week, according to Reuters.
The investiture comes at a difficult time, marked by several racial conflicts, considered the worst in the last 20 years.
The new queen is 27 years old
The new sovereign was chosen by Maori elders to replace her father, King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, who died last week aged 69 following surgery.
The investiture ceremony, known as Te Whakawahinga, took place in front of thousands of people gathered for the tangihanga (funeral) of the former king.
Unlike the usual coronation traditions, the new queen was not crowned, but an 1858 bible was placed on her head, with Archbishop Don Tamihere anointing her with oils considered sacred.
The new queen, 27, is the only daughter of the former king and his wife, Te Atawhai Makau Ariki, and holds a master’s degree in Tikanga Maori, with expertise in the preservation of the Maori language.
Source: www.descopera.ro
