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Ngā wai hono i te pō, the Māori queen, is visiting London this week. “Whether at home or on the world stage, Te Arikinui’s leadership is about creating pathways for our people, particularly our rangathi [Māori youth] to thrive,” Kiingitanga (the Māori monarchy) spokesperson Rahui Papa said in a statement. (Te Arikinui is the queen’s title, meaning Paramount Chief.)
After attending the King’s Trust celebration last night, she met with Prince William this morning at Windsor Castle. According to Kiingitanga, they discussed “a range of global topics” and she “affirmed her belief in the power of Indigenous knowledge and intergenerational stewardship to help solve the world’s environmental and social challenges.” The Māori monarchy noted it was “a meaningful kōrero [conversation]” focused on “a shared passion for environmental solutions that bring together indigenous knowledge and Western science.”
Kensington Palace
Prince William and Nga Wai Hono i te Po.
“This year marks the 50th Anniversary of The Trust, which is dedicated to helping young people to complete their journey from education to employment,” Kiingitanga said in a statement. “Four rangatahi entrepreneurs from Aotearoa will take part in the anniversary celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday and a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. The rangatahi have established businesses that are creating jobs and opportunities for whānau [extended Māori family] and their local communities.”
Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō is just the eighth Māori monarch in New Zealand—and second-ever queen. She is the only daughter and youngest child of the former Māori king Tūheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII.
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The new queen at the funeral ceremony of King Tuheitia in September 2024.
Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō met King Charles once, during a visit to London in June 2022, to strengthen ties between the two royal families. “Through these connections and making peace with the circumstances of the past, we will be able to find a way forward collectively,” she said at the time. “I’ll be honest, my greatest desire of all is for all Māori land to be returned to Māori.”
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.