Maaori King awarded city's top honour

The Maaori King, Te Arikinui Kiingi Tuuheitia has been awarded the highest civic honour of Freedom Holder of the City of Hamilton.

The Freedom of the City, by unanimous decision of the Hamilton City Council, will be conferred on Kiingi Tuuheitia later in the year.

His late mother, Maaori Queen Te Arikinui Dame Te Aatairangikaahu, was also a Freedom of the City holder.

Only 12 living people are able to be Freedom Holders at the one time.

Kiingi Tuuheitia is celebrating 10 years as Maaori King at the week-long koroneihana celebrations at Turangawaewae in August.

In his leadership role, Kiingi Tuuheitia has made a significant and sustained contribution to Hamilton, extending from development projects, including The Base – the largest retail complex in New Zealand - to setting up tertiary scholarships and colleges.

Kiingi Tuuheitia is responsible for establishing the Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development , a post-graduate college that works in partnership with the University of Waikato and delivering the university’s MBA programme.

His contribution to education also includes the development of five-yearly nursing scholarships in memory of his mother, the late Te Arikinui Dame Te Aatairangikaahu, at Wintec worth $25,000.
Leadership and community service are ever present in Kiingi Tuuheitia’s contributions.

He serves as a patron, chair or appoints individuals to key leadership roles in 56 organisations, many of which are based in Hamilton.

These organisations include the University of Waikato, Waikato Institute of Technology, Royal NZ Police Waikato District and Te Kohao Health o Kirikiriroa.

Mayor Julie Hardaker says awarding Kiingi Tuuheitia the honour of Freedom Holder of the City is a way to acknowledge his contribution to the community at a time when he is soon to celebrate an important milestone in his role as King.

“Te Arikinui Kiingi Tuuheitia has given 10 years of service to the people of Hamilton and continues to ensure the best for our community. He has led or been involved in numerous projects and initiatives that have helped Hamilton become the best city it can be,” says Mayor Hardaker.

At a national level, Tuuheitia has contributed significantly to cultural and religious unification.
The reformation of the national tribal Council, Te Kaumarua, is attributed to Tuuheitia and he convenes Kaahui Wairua, a hui of Maaori and Paakeehaa religious leaders.

Previous recipients of the award of Freedom of the City include the late Dame Hilda Ross, Dame Malvina Major, the late Sir Ross Jansen and the late Brian Perry.