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Te Atairangikaahu
has been a quiet and gentle queen, but she has made an
important contribution to her country and to her
people. She has been one of
Maoridom's most respected leaders, and a quiet influence on
many important matters. She was the head of
a movement founded in the 1850s to unite the Maori people,
and protect Maori land and customs. After many hui, the
head of the Waikato people, the renowned leader and warrior,
Potatau Te Wherowhero, became the first Maori King in 1858.
Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu is one of his direct
descendants.
She has welcomed
many important visitors from overseas to the Turangawaewae
marae. Here she is greeting Princess Anne, from the British
royal family. She has been very
close to many of the Polynesian leaders too, and they will
come to pay their last respects to her at the
tangi. Dame Te Ata has been
a wonderful international ambassador for New Zealand, and
has moved between Maori and Pakeha worlds bringing people
together. She has supported
both traditional and modern Maori arts, and encouraged her
people to strive for excellence in everything they did. She
encouraged women to hold on to their great gifts in
language, art, craft, dance and religion. She also
encouraged them to take active part in their
communities.
