New Zealand’s Maori king dies at 69

A 69-years-old king of the Indigenous Maori people of New Zealand, King Tuheitia, died on Friday while recovering from heart surgery

King Tuheitia, who had been in hospital recovering from heart surgery, was reported to have died after a few days of celebrating the 18th anniversary of his coronation.

Te Arikinui Tūheitia Paki, is the seventh Māori monarch. He was crowned on 21st August 2006, following the death of his mother, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, on August 15.

New Zealand Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon led the tributes from the Pacific nation as flags on government and public buildings were flown at half-mast. “Today, we mourn,” Luxon said in a statement.

“The death of Kiingi Tuheitia is a moment of great sadness,” the spokesperson added in a statement. “A chief who has passed to the great beyond. Rest in love.”

King Tuheitia passed away peacefully surrounded by family, a spokesperson said.

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