Story: Kīngitanga – the Māori King movement

Kīngitanga flags: Dame Te Atairangikaahu's flag (3rd of 3)

Kīngitanga flags: Dame Te Atairangikaahu's flag

This is the flag of the seventh Māori monarch and first Māori queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, flying at Waahi , Huntly. Dame Te Ata, as she was often known, died in 2006.

The flag of the Kīngitanga movement is also the personal flag of the current monarch and is flown at the official residence at Tūrangawaewae, Ngāruawāhia. The flag precedes the monarch when he or she visits other marae that recognise the authority of the Kīngitanga. When the monarch dies, their personal flag is interred with them and a new one is made for their successor. Each new flag is strictly tapu and is kept by a hereditary custodian.

Using this item

New Zealand Herald
Reference: 150807NZHSRIQUEEN12.JPG
Photograph by Sarah Ivey

Permission of the New Zealand Herald must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Rahui Papa and Paul Meredith, 'Kīngitanga – the Māori King movement - Origins of the Kīngitanga', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/37847/kingitanga-flags-dame-te-atairangikaahus-flag (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Rahui Papa and Paul Meredith, published 20 Jun 2012, reviewed & revised 2 Mar 2023