September 09, 2022
Death of Queen reminder of NZ links
On the death of Queen Elizabeth, Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta is remembering the warm personal friendship she had with the late Māori queen, Te Atairangikaahu.
The monarch died peacefully at Balmoral in Scotland on Thursday afternoon aged 96, two days after undertaking her final public constitutional duty, with the appointment of the 15th prime minister of her 70-year reign.
Ms Mahuta says she was of the same generation as her aunt, and the two women found they had a lot in common.
“They came into their roles as monarchs at a young age. They both had their children during the term of their leadership. Te Ata met the queen a number of times, both in the UK and here in New Zealand. They shared a very warm friendship,” she says.
Minister Mahuta says Queen Elizabeth exemplified strong democratic principles and the rule of law,
Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi says Queen Elizabeth has been an anchor in a rapidly-changing world.
Mr Waititi says questions on the role of the monarchy can wait while the world shares in acknowledging her legacy and supporting her whanau and mokopuna is their grief.
“We acknowledge the long service but it’s now time for her to rest and for many to pay tribute to a long life of service. We can put all of our own things aside because those are not going away. I personally want to pay a tribute and also to farewell tenei e te ariki to te Ingarangi,” he says.
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