#1Aug 19th, 2006
Some days ago, Her Majesty the Queen of Canada expressed her condolences to the family and friends of Te Akarinui Dame Te Ata-i-Rangikaahu, the now-former monarch of the Te Kīngitanga in New Zealand. Her Majesty noted, in particular, the strong leadership and dignity that Te Dame Ata had exhibited throughout her forty-year reign as a monarch at the Turangawaewae Marae, and her dedicated life of service to her people.

Quote: Originally Posted by [color=#8968cd

HM the Queen[/color]]I extend my condolences on the death of Te Ariki Dame Te Ata-i-Rangikaahu. Dame Te Ata gave a lifetime of service and dedication. I remember warmly my own visit to Turangawaewae and my meetings with Dame Te Ata. Her leadership, dignity and compassion will long be remembered.

Click here to read the entire article.

I was quite interested in reading about the way in which the Māohi King Movement came to be—apparently, during the colonisation of New Zealand, certain tribes decided to band together and created their own monarch-like position in order to better communicate and negotiate with the British monarchy of the time. While the position of Te Arikinui carries no legal or constitutional weight, it is a quite symbolic position, and an interesting one at that, in my view.

Sources
1. Click here for the Web site of the Royal Family of Canada.