Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu reigned for 40 years as the leader of the Māori King Movement, Te Kīngitanga. She succeeded her father, Koroki, on 23 May 1966.
Dame Te Atairangikaahu died on 15 August 2006. Her eldest son, Te Arikinui Tuheitia Paki, was confirmed as her successor six days later.
E te Arikinui, Te Atairangikaahu
Queen, Te Atairangkaahu
Te mokopuna o te motu, te whaea o te whenua
The grandchild of the region, the mother of the land
Moe mai i te poho o te tupuna whare, Mahinaarangi,
Rest in peace in the bosom of the ancestral home, Mahinaarangi
I te whakaharahara o tou marae rongonui, Turangawaewae.
In the magnificence of your well-known marae, Turangawaewae
Moe mai i raro i te mauri o te maungatapu o Taupiri
Rest in peace in the spirit of your sacred mountain, Taupiri
E hoe tou waka tapu i runga i tou awa, Waikato
Guide your sacred waka gracefully over the waters of Waikato
E ki a nei te korero
As the saying goes
Waikato taniwharau, he piko he taniwha, he piko he taniwha
Waikato of a hundred bends and on every bend a chief
Haere atu ra e te ariki i nga kapua e rere ki tua
Farewell Te Arikinui, on the clouds that speed you beyond
Mai nga tohu-a-Maori hei piata mai
Bypassing the many symbols of Maoridom that shine upon your journey
Te whakamohio te huarahi tika, huarahi pai
To ensure your journey is straight and true
Hei kawe nei tou tira ki tera wahi o tatou
Carrying you to that everlasting place
Ki hawaiki nui, hawaiki roa, hawaiki pamamao
To the big hawaiki, the long hawaiki, the hawaiki far away
Te hono I wairua
Where the spirits meet
Rire rire ... paimarire.
Farewell.
Turongo House, Ngaruawahia
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