Kiingi Tuheitia on a carved wooden throne during his coronation ceremony at Turangawaewae in Ngaruawahia on 21 August 2006. Photo: PETER DRURY/Pool/AFP
The Māori King, Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero, has died at the age of 69.
He was the seventh of the line of Pootatau Te Wherowhero to head the Kiingitanga, having succeeded his mother, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, following her death in 2006.
Here is a look at some of the key moments:
Kiingi Tuheitia beside the coffin of his mother Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu during her funeral service at Turangawaewae in Ngaruawahia on 21 August 2006. Photo: PETER DRURY/Pool/AFP
Kiingi Tuheitia on the first day of Rātana 2024. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
King Charles (then Prince Charles) and Camilla exchange gifts with Kiingi Tuheitia during a visit to Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia on 8 November 2015. Photo: Hagen Hopkins / POOL / AFP
Kiingi Tuheitia at Ihumātao. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
Kiingi Tuheitia arriving at Rātana Pa in 2014. Photo: RNZ
Kiingi Tuheitia at the powhiri for Te Matatini at Waitangi Park. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
King Tupou VI of Tonga sits alongside Kiingi Tuheitia at Turangawaewae Marae during koroneihana celebrations on 20 August 2024. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel
Kiingi Tuheitia and wife share laugh at Rātana. Photo: RNZ / Patrice Allen
Pope Frances and Kingii Tuheitia at the Vatican in 2019. Photo: Vatican News/Facebook
Kiingi Tuheitia signs He Whakaputanga Moana in Rarotonga. Photo: Supplied / Cook Islands News / Melina Etches
The All Blacks pose for a photo with Kiingi Tuheitia and his wife Te Atawhai at Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Photo: William West/AFP
Kingii Tuheitia at Rātana Pa in 2014. Photo: RNZ
Photo: Supplied / Waikato Tainui
Photo: Supplied / Waikato Tainui