Ingoa: Dame Te Atairangikaahu
Important facts about your person?
Dame Te Atairangikaahu, of Ngati Mahuta, Ngati Apakura and Ngati Maniapoto, was the first woman chosen to lead Kīngitanga (the Māori king movement), becoming the first Māori queen. Born Pikimene Korokī Mahuta, or Princess Piki, she later assumed her mother’s name, which is what she became widely known as. She was born at Waahi pā on the 23rd of July, the youngest of two female siblings, and was educated at the local Rakaumanga Native School, subsequently groomed for leadership from a young age. Her aunt, Te Puea Herangi, was very influential in her life, and prepared her to lead the Kīngitanga, should she be chosen for the role in later life. At the age of fifteen, her aunt sent her to board at Te Rahui Wahine, a Methodist school where she became a prefect, her leadership skills prevalent from a young age. While Te Puea ensured that Piki was comfortable socialising in a European environment, she made sure Piki never lost sight of her Māori heritage. Overall, Piki’s passage into the political world, and her success in that field, is largely attributed to the assistance, encouragement and pressure placed on her by her aunt. During a visit from Queen Elizabeth the ll and the Duke of Edinburgh to Tūrangawaewae, Princess Piki was the one to lead them into the marae, her father, Korokī, the leader of the Kīngitanga at the time, fell back, and many people viewed this as him marking Princess Piki as his heir. Over the years, he grew increasingly ill, and Piki represented him more and more, demonstrating her confidence and charm as a leader. Following his death, Piki was elected queen, but was reluctant to accept her role and she chose to strongly mark her ascension by taking on her mother’s name- who had passed the previous year.
What did he/she do to contribute to the survival of te reo Māori?
Te Atairangikaahu was the leader of the Kīngitanga for over forty years, and she contributed extensively to the survival of Te Reo Māori. Not only was she responsible for the continuous hosting of many Māori events, but she became ingrained in the community. People respected her as a leader- she could be seen attending a rugby game as much as the theatre or opera, and her speeches reflected the beliefs of her people. She traveled extensively overseas, and gained greater respect, not just for the Māori people, but for all of Aotearoa. She was a strong supporter of many cultural events, including the Pacific arts festival, ensuring that traditions were upheld, and not forgotten. A key event in her reign was the Waikato Raupatu Settlement in 1995, settling the ongoing land disputes in the region, and gaining acknowledgment from the government to help come to a mutual agreement that would suit both parties- the Pākēha and Māori tribes who had lost land during colonisation. Te Atairangikaahu was an advocate for Māori, working to uphold the traditions that had been passed down through generations. She was a patroness for the Māori Women's Welfare League and kōhanga reo movement. She continually expressed the importance of maintaining the language in youth. In 1970, Te Atairangikaahu became the first Māori women to be made a Dame. Her perseverance and determination in the revitalization of Te Reo Māori, is a key time in the history of the language.
Why did you select this person?
For me, choosing Whina Cooper would have been the obvious choice, as she is well known for contributing to the survival of Te Reo Māori. However, I wanted to investigate someone I didn’t know anything about- so I chose Dame Te Atairangikaahu. Before completing this research I knew nothing about her- my understanding of important Māori figures through the years is very limited- and I really wanted to broaden my knowledge. The reason I chose Dame Te Atairangikaahu is because I wanted to learn more about different people who have contributed to the survival of a precious taonga of Māori culture- the language.
What can you contribute to continue the legacy of your Tangata Rongonui?
In my opinion, the greatest thing we can gather from Te Atairangikaahu’s actions is to never give up. Stand up for what is right, stand up for the people that can’t do it themselves. Preserve what is precious to your community, culture, people. To contribute to her legacy, we cannot forget- teach the language, learn- anybody can continue this legacy, everybody can contribute, you don’t need Māori heritage to keep a precious culture alive. Don’t laugh at someone because they can’t pronounce the words, because they might be trying really hard. My chosen Tangata Rongonui was Te Atairangikaahu, who taught people that determination can be the backbone of keeping what you love, alive.
POSTER OF MY TANGATA RONGONUI
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