2006: The Seventh Maori King

May 7, 2022

By AHNZ

Maori King is not just the title of a cool clothing brand (image, left) but also that of Mr Tuheitia Paki who became our seventh king on 21 August 2006. As with many other future Maori leaders, Paki was educated at the famous St. Stephen’s College in Auckland which was made derelict by Labour 5.0 Education Minister Trevor Mallard in 2000¹. Alike with almost all Baby Boomer Maoris his education does not include a knowledge of the Maori language.

Paki’s rulership has been a rocky one so far. In 2014 his son and heir was charged with drink driving, burglary and theft but the case was successfully defended on the grounds that the young prince was in line for the Maori throne. The Royal Family certainly made a mockery of the idea ‘one law for all’ since few or no other New Zealand families could have avoided criminal conviction by playing that card.

His Highness has a record of choosing men with eating disorders for his Chief of Staff/Private Secretary. Both Rangi Whakaruru and Ngira Simmonds managed to have their workplace pay for gastric bypass surgery. During the tenure of Whakaruru and the late Wira Gardiner the Serious Fraud Office made a bust on the King’s offices². Whakaruru took the fall, right or wrong, and was sentenced to 12 months home detention for fraud in 2020.³ More recently, Ngira Simmonds’ had his gastric bypass too. With a sharp eye on the smoking crater where his predecessor once stood he organised his surgery through the Anglican Church⁴ which is less likely to be subject to a police raid.

According to Wikipedia, His Majesty generally speaks publicly only once a year in return for his family and retinue being financially provided for by the Waikato Tainui tribe. Brevity is for the best, according to Chief Advisor Tuku Morgan who wrote: “Some of the public and often ‘off the cuff’ speeches you made were embarrassing because you are a poor communicator. As your Chief Advisor, I cringed each time you stood to speak. There were occasions when you publicly abused people by swearing at them. Speech making is not your strength to stop embarrassing yourself in the future you should say nothing and allow others who are better skilled to speak for you.” Ref. Former adviser to Māori King chastises the office over spending, Stuff (2018) It seems true, listening to any media concerning Paki, that everything “he” says is coming from men such as Simmonds and Morgan.

In my opinion Tuku Morgan (of luxury underwear fame) runs the show now. I feel like the 2018 SFO raid and associated media storming was a royal coup for control of a figurehead. The Maori King is tied to the purse strings of the Waikato Tainui who has as much or more power over him as the Executive Government has over the Governor General. Once in power, the Governor General now cuts ribbons and obediently signs legislation into law as directed by the Prime Minister of the day. At least they have term limits. The Maori King is in it for life and I’m reminded of the conservatorship of Britney Spears and the campaign to free her from captivity. I also remember the scene of King Theoden in Lord of the Rings when Gandalf revives him from being Chief Counsellor Wormtoungue’s puppet. The governing body of the Waikato Tainui (Te Arataura) is, of course, led by Chairman Tuku Morgan.⁵

Hopefully they have their house in order at last and the next king, Whatu, (lucky number 8 in Ratana lore) will be self-expressed and independent rather than a captive puppet.

“Defamatory Comments and Breach of Intellectual Property Rights”

Current Chief of Staff/Private Secretary Ngira Simmonds has written to Anarchist History of New Zealand requiring the removal of a post about the Second Maori King. As observed previously, the Maori King Movement hasn’t been big on freedom of speech. Ref. 1863: The Sparrow and the Eagle, AHNZ

“Matutaera Tawhiao (Maori King 2.0) lived from 1822-1894. His father created his own throne in New Zealand as part of a rebellion against the Crown Colony. The State does not suffer competition.

“The man who once had thousands fighting for him was, by 1890 reduced to a handful of lieutenants and a “squawking old woman.” When the Native Secretary came to visit his highness he found this little group huddled in a ferny clearing, the old king much in distress.

“Tawhiao once had his own Maori bank, the Kingitanga Bank. However, he made off with depositor’s savings as if they were his own to spend them on an overseas trip to visit the Queen. His subjects were furious and there was no coming back after that.

“There is still a Maori King today but he lets Tuku Morgan (of luxury underwear fame) run the show.” – AHNZ, Facebook (2022)

There have been about 3,000 views of that post and many comments. Most visitors love the picture, created using a MyHeritage app, and have no dispute with the biography. I wrote it off the top of my head to go with the picture and hurried on to do the same for George Grey and Michael Joseph Savage which were also animated from still pictures. Certainly there are some bad feelings about the above passage but nobody had any disputes to articulate to disagree with the historical facts. It seems unlikely that the King’s Secretary would have found fault where thousands of crowd-sourced readers could not.

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Defamatory Comments and Breach of Intellectual Property Rights
Date: 2022-05-06 05:59
From: Tasha | Kiingitanga <projects@kiingitanga.com>
To: “anarchist_history@anarkiwi.co.nz” <anarchist_history@anarkiwi.co.nz>
Cc: Ngira | Kiingitanga <chairman@kiingitanga.com>

Good afternoon Mr Court

Please see attached a letter from Ngira Simmonds, Chief of Staff and
Private Secretary to the Maaori King.

Ngaa mihi

6 May 2022
Anarchist History of New Zealand
Director
85 Cashmere Drive
Fitzherbert
Palmerston North 4410
Anarchist_history@anarkiwi.co.nz

SENT BY EMAIL

To Mr Court,

DEFAMATORY COMMENTS AND BREACH OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

The Kiingitanga was established by chiefs representing the Maaori tribes of Aotearoa with the
crowning of Pootatau Te Wherowhero as the first Maaori King at Ngaaruawaahia in 1858 and
continues to carry an important legacy for Maaori to date and into the future. One purpose and
objective of its establishment was protecting and preserving Maaori sovereignty over their lands,
mountains, rivers, fisheries and taonga throughout Aotearoa. Today this includes digital content
as The Kiingitanga continues to advance matters of political, cultural, social, environmental,
spiritual and economic importance to the Maaori tribes of Aotearoa.

We have been notified of your public post regarding Kiingi Taawhiao and reference to Kiingi
Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII at https://fb.watch/cQc9tGpY-Q/

We request the immediate removal of the material due to the false and defamatory comments used
to discredit the Kiingitanga and Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII – in addition a breach
of use regarding intellectual property rights exclusively held by the Kiingitanga.

We request the post be removed immediately in the first instance, prior to any further action
required.

If you require any information or would like to discuss, please feel free to contact our office on
0210334724 or to email chairman@kiingitanga.com.

Paimaarire.

Regards,
[signiture]
Archdeacon Ngira Simmonds
Ranga Tiki – Chief of Staff

Anarchist History of New Zealand Replies

Dear Mr Tuheitia Paki,
I have received a letter (6 May) on your behalf expressing concern over a social media post about New Zealand’s history.

The image used is of Mr Matutaera Tawhiao, the second Maori King, and has been in the public domain for a very long time. The publisher, New Zealand Graphic and Ladies’ Journal, and creator are long dead. The usage is covered by creative commons law for art, news, and history-reporting purposes. If you know of any reason why Maaori Sovereignty trumps ordinary law in this matter please don’t hesitate to let me know so I can correct any misuse of intellectual property.

Very happy to cooperate and do not wish to impede your brand or continuing advance on behalf of the Maori tribes especially if that is what they all want you to do.

Defamation and discredit must be well under control in your kingdom now if you are troubled by my little blog and I’m glad matters have improved for you. I have confirmed my social media remarks with the primary sources and they agree. However, if you find anything about the kingitanga bank robbery (1884) or the arrest of Tawhiao’s advisor (1890) that was incorrectly stated please let me know so I can correct the record.

Hope you’re doing well. If I’m ever passing through Ngaruawahia I would love to drop by for a yarn.

At your service,
Mr Rick Giles,
On behalf of Mr Nathan Court, AHNZ Ltd.

—
1 Work has recently been underway to reform the old derelict. Likewise, St Stephen’s. Ref. Old boys return to St Stephen’s School at Bombay for cleanup towards reopening, NZ Herald (2021)

2 At least he got to commit fraud. Most of New Zealand were put into COVID home detention in the same time period and we didn’t get nothin’.

3 Māori King’s office raided by Serious Fraud Office, Stuff (2018)

4 Ngira Simmonds almost loses half his weight in 1 year, Te Ao Maori News (2020)

5. Tuku Morgan returns as chair of Te Arataura, NZ Herald (2022)

Image ref. Maori King promotional material, Facebook (2022)

Image ref. Royal endorsement for Labour 6.0’s COVID jabs, Kiingitanga, Facebook (2021)

Ref. Anger over discharge for Maori King’s son, NZ Herald (2014)

Image ref. King Tawhiao, New Zealand Graphic and Ladies’ Journal (20 May 1893); Animated by AHNZ