To mangle the words of Shakespeare, he was someone who achieved greatness after having greatness thrust upon him.
Although he has been dogged by poor health, his death at 69, following scheduled heart surgery, has shocked the nation, coming mere days after the celebrations of the 18th anniversary of his coronation.
He had expected that when his mother, the beloved Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, died in 2006 his older sister Heeni would succeed her, but the leaders of the tribes associated with the Kiiingitanga movement appointed him to the role.
Several years ago ill health meant his eldest son Whatumoana Paki had to take over his duties for a time, but in recent years Kiingi Tūheitia ’s voice has been heard loud and clear on the national stage.
Late last year he took the rare step of calling for a national hui, asking iwi to meet to ‘‘unify the nation and ensure all voices are heard when holding the new coalition government to account’’.
The resulting event at Turangawaewae Marae was attended by more than 10,000 people, and, while there were confronting debates there, the message from Kiingi Tūheitia was one of kotahitanga (unity) and hope.
He was clear real improvements needed for Māori in various areas, including employment, education, housing and health were issues which were bigger than politics, a message which cannot be overstated but which has been hard for many politicians to grasp.
Kiingi Tūheitia longed for the country to get to a stage where ‘‘Māori and the government don’t always need to fight’’.
He was critical of Act New Zealand’s proposed Treaty principles Bill, an issue which has caused considerable division although it has yet to be presented.
He considered the best way Māori could protest would be to be Māori.
‘‘Be who we are, live our values, speak our reo, care for our mokopuna (grandchildren), our awa (rivers), our maunga (mountains), just be Māori.’’
That was the talk he walked as the observations in the myriad tributes for him nationally and internationally attest.
He is remembered for his lack of pretension, his kindness and sense of humour, commitment to his whanau, passion for te ao Māori, and desire for a more inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand.
Although he became a public figure, in essence he was very much a family man, and his role as husband, a father, a brother, an uncle and a grandfather should not be forgotten in the days ahead.
His tangi is likely to emulate that of his mother’s which was a huge, spectacular and moving occasion.
Thousands are expected to make the sad pilgrimage to the Turangawaewae marae to honour and pay their respects to him as he lies in state before his eventual burial on Taupiri Mountain on Thursday.
On that day, the person who will follow King Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII is expected to be announced, after deliberations by a group of leaders within the Kiingitanga movement.
While that person will have to forge their own path in the role, the importance of Kiingi Tūheitia’s message about the need for kotahitanga in the country should not be lost.
Being united in grief will not be enough.
