Māori are the indigenous Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand. Māori originated with settlers from East Polynesia, who arrived in New Zealand in several waves of canoe voyages between roughly 1320 and 1350. There are approximately over 170,000 Maori in the country.
The Maori king movement, was established in 1858 to unite the Maori tribes following the loss of lands due to British colonization.
Queen Nga Wai hono i te po, age 27, is the second Maori queen in the eight-dynasty reign; her grandmother, Queen Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, was the first to reign as queen.
Queen Nga Wai hono i te po, age 27, is the second Maori queen in the eight-dynasty reign; her grandmother, Queen Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, was the first to reign as queen.
The Catholic Bishops of New Zealand released a report on the queen from the website CathNews, it was Queen Te Arikinui who asked that her granddaughter be baptized by the late Auxiliary Bishop Max Takuira Matthew Mariu of Hamilton, the first Maori Catholic bishop.
Her baptism in the settlement town of Parakino was not only meant to symbolically unite Maori tribes in the areas near the Waikato and Whanganui Rivers, but also to signify the close ties between the Kiingitanga movement and the Catholic Church, CathNews New Zealand reported. The late Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, who died in 2006, asked that Pīhopa Tākuira Mariu SM baptise her grand-daughter. This request came when both of them were at Parikino on the Tira Hoe Waka (the annual canoe trip down the Whanganui River).The new queen’s name was inspired by the symbolism of her baptism: “Ngawai Hono ki Parakino,” which translates to the “Joining of the Rivers” in Maori.
Catholic Background of Ngawai Hono i te Po Paki ki Parikino
A Confirmation name was explored for Ngawai. One cannot add any name to someone of Royal line, even a Saint. Advice was sought from the local Kuia, Sophie Albert. Hence ‘Sophie’, as in St Madeleine Sophie Barat, was chosen as Ngawai’s patron for Confirmation.
Pā Hemi Hekiera SM prepared the liturgy for Confirmation and Communion which took place within a Miha Māori.
A Catholic Mass was needed to celebrate Communion and it took place at Tūrangawaewae marae linked with the gathering for the anniversary celebrations of the Coronation of Kīngi Tūheitia Te Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII.
The late Bishop Denis Browne was set to celebrate, but was unable to come, so Monsignor David Bennett celebrated the actual Confirmation. During the ceremony, despite the day starting exceptionally wet with cloud, the sun broke through at the time of Confirmation and shone on the gathering, a ‘tohu’ or sign of blessing. This moment was enhanced by the late Kuia Biddy Mareikura giving a karanga to the Holy Spirit and Ngawai now confirmed.
A Confirmation name was explored for Ngawai. One cannot add any name to someone of Royal line, even a Saint. Advice was sought from the local Kuia, Sophie Albert. Hence ‘Sophie’, as in St Madeleine Sophie Barat, was chosen as Ngawai’s patron for Confirmation.
Pā Hemi Hekiera SM prepared the liturgy for Confirmation and Communion which took place within a Miha Māori.
A Catholic Mass was needed to celebrate Communion and it took place at Tūrangawaewae marae linked with the gathering for the anniversary celebrations of the Coronation of Kīngi Tūheitia Te Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII.
The late Bishop Denis Browne was set to celebrate, but was unable to come, so Monsignor David Bennett celebrated the actual Confirmation. During the ceremony, despite the day starting exceptionally wet with cloud, the sun broke through at the time of Confirmation and shone on the gathering, a ‘tohu’ or sign of blessing. This moment was enhanced by the late Kuia Biddy Mareikura giving a karanga to the Holy Spirit and Ngawai now confirmed.
Let us pray for the new Queen, that the graces she has received will continue to strengthen her.
Sources: Official Facebook Page of the Catholic Bishops of New Zealand - OSV News excerpts - and Wikipedia stats
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