# Whatumoana Paki > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Whatumoana_Paki > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Whatumoana_Paki.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whatumoana_Paki > Source revision: 1338799055 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) New Zealand Māori royal elder Not to be confused with his grandson, [Whatumoana Paki (born 1988 or 1989)](/source/Whatumoana_Paki_(born_1988_or_1989)). **Whatumoana Paki** [QSO](/source/Companion_of_the_Queen's_Service_Order) (1 February 1926 – 22 September 2011) was a [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) [Māori](/source/M%C4%81ori_people) royal elder. Paki was the husband of the Māori Queen, [Te Atairangikaahu](/source/Te_Atairangikaahu), who reigned from 1966 to 2006.[1][2] He and Te Atairangikaahu were the parents of the seventh [Māori monarch](/source/M%C4%81ori_King_Movement), [Tūheitia Paki](/source/T%C5%ABheitia_Paki).[1] ## Biography Paki was born in [Huntly](/source/Huntly%2C_New_Zealand). His father was Wetere Paki of the Ngāti Whawhakia subtribe of the [Waikato tribe](/source/Waikato_(iwi)).[3] His mother Frances Paki (née Brown) was from [Te Aupōuri](/source/Te_Aup%C5%8Duri),[3][4] the northernmost Māori [iwi](/source/Iwi), or tribal group, in New Zealand. Paki worked as a farmer and [coalminer](/source/Coalminer) during his early career.[1] He became one of the principal maintenance people for Māori [marae](/source/Marae) located along the [Waikato River](/source/Waikato_River), which includes the [Mangatautari marae](/source/Mangatautari_marae).[1] By the 1950s, Paki began dating Princess [Piki Mahuta](/source/Piki_Mahuta),[1] the only daughter of both [King Korokī](/source/King_Korok%C4%AB) and his wife Te Atairangikaahu Hērangi. The couple married in 1952.[1] They had seven children - Heeni Wharemaru, Kiri Tokia Ete Tomairangi, Tuheitia, Maharaia, Mihikiteao, Kiki and Te Manawanui.[1] They lived at Waahi Pā in Huntly, in a home Paki helped to build.[1][5] King Korokī died in 1966. Paki's wife succeeded her father as Māori Queen and became known as [Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu](/source/Te_Arikinui_Te_Atairangikaahu).[1] As the consort of the Queen, Paki had to step back from public statements and defer public opinions to her. Dame [Iritana Tāwhiwhirangi](/source/Iritana_T%C4%81whiwhirangi), a longtime friend of Paki, recalled that Paki told her of his expected role within the monarchy, "He shared with me that a [kaumatua](/source/Kaumatua) told him, 'Just remember that you must leave all the statements to her.' For a man who had a very strong mind that can't have been easy. Gosh, I know some men who wouldn't have done that for anything. But he did it with panache and he was a tower of strength behind Dame Te Ata."[1] In 1990, Paki received the [New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal](/source/New_Zealand_1990_Commemoration_Medal),[6] and in the [1991 New Year Honours](/source/1991_New_Year_Honours_(New_Zealand)) he was appointed a [Companion of the Queen's Service Order](/source/Queen's_Service_Order) for community service.[7] Dame Te Atairangikaahu died in 2006 after 54 years of marriage. Paki's son [Tuheitia Paki](/source/Tuheitia_Paki), succeeded his mother as Māori king. Paki had wanted a [tombstone](/source/Tombstone) for his wife, but members of the royal family of Tainui, called kāhui ariki, are not permitted to have monuments at their graves.[2] Instead, Paki planted a breed of purple [roses](/source/Rose), named specifically for Te Atairangikaahu, around a memorial stone at their home in Waahi Pā.[1] Paki continued to live at his home at Waahi Pā following Te Atairangikaahu's death.[1] He was ill and hospitalized for much of 2011.[2] However, Paki checked himself out of the hospital in August 2011 to attend his son's fifth coronation (*Koroneihana*) anniversary celebrations, and [pōwhiri](/source/P%C5%8Dwhiri).[2][8] Paki died on 22 September 2011, at the age of 85 after a long illness.[9] His funeral was held at his home at Waahi Pā, Huntly, with dignitaries attending from as far away as the [Cook Islands](/source/Cook_Islands), [Hawaii](/source/Hawaii), and [Samoa](/source/Samoa).[5] He was buried on [Mount Taupiri](/source/Mount_Taupiri) next to his wife.[5][10][11][12] He was driven to Mount Taupiri in a [1930 Model A Ford](/source/Ford_Model_A_(1927%E2%80%931931)), which he had helped restore.[5] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nzherald_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nzherald_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nzherald_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-nzherald_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-nzherald_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-nzherald_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-nzherald_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-nzherald_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-nzherald_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-nzherald_1-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-nzherald_1-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-nzherald_1-11) Tahana, Yvonne (24 September 2011). ["Obituary: Whatumoana Paki"](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10753977). *[New Zealand Herald](/source/New_Zealand_Herald)*. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nzherald2_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nzherald2_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nzherald2_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-nzherald2_2-3) Tahana, Yvonne (22 September 2011). ["Maori King's father dies"](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10753533). *[New Zealand Herald](/source/New_Zealand_Herald)*. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-haere_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-haere_3-1) ["Mrs Francis Paki (sic)"](http://teaohou.natlib.govt.nz/journals/teaohou/issue/Mao19TeA/c2.html). *Te Ao Hou* (19). August 1957. Retrieved 13 May 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-TeKao_4-0)** ["News in brief"](http://teaohou.natlib.govt.nz/journals/teaohou/issue/Mao15TeA/c15.html). *Te Ao Hou* (15). July 1956. Retrieved 13 May 2012. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nzherald3_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nzherald3_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nzherald3_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-nzherald3_5-3) Ihaka, James (27 September 2011). ["Royal patriarch is laid to rest beside his Queen"](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10754635). *[New Zealand Herald](/source/New_Zealand_Herald)*. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Taylor, Alister](/source/Alister_Taylor); [Coddington, Deborah](/source/Deborah_Coddington) (1994). *Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand*. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 291. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-908578-34-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-908578-34-2). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["No. 52383"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52383/supplement/30). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (2nd supplement). 31 December 1990. p. 30. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-rnz1_8-0)** ["This year marks the fifth anniversary of the coronation of the Maori King Tuheitia"](http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/82720/fifth-coronation-anniversary-for-maori-king). *[Radio New Zealand](/source/Radio_New_Zealand)*. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-rnz_9-0)** ["The father of Kingi Tuheitia, Whatumoana Paki, has died at the age of 85 after battling a long illness"](http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/85863/father-of-maori-king-dies). *[Radio New Zealand](/source/Radio_New_Zealand)*. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-wt_10-0)** Akuhata, Karla (26 September 2011). ["Revered Kingitanga elder reunited with Dame Te Ata, Whatumoana Paki laid to rest"](http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/5690538/Revered-Kingitanga-elder-reunited-with-Dame-Te-Ata/). *[Waikato Times](/source/Waikato_Times)*. Retrieved 16 October 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Hamilton marks the passing of Whatumoana Paki Snr"](http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1109/S00699/hamilton-marks-the-passing-of-whatumoana-paki-snr.htm). *scoop.co.nz*. 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Mana Party Pays Respects To Whatumoana Paki"](http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1109/S00448/mana-party-pays-respects-to-whatumoana-paki.htm). *scoop.co.nz*. 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Whatumoana Paki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whatumoana_Paki) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whatumoana_Paki?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.