Maori Queen dies at age 75
Posted: Wednesday, August 16th, 2006 7:02 amHAMILTON, New Zealand, Aug. 16 (UPI) — A weeklong period of mourning has been declared in New Zealand for Maori Queen Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu who died at age 75.
Te Atairangikaahu, who reigned for 40 years as the sixth holder of the Maori Kingship established in 1858, died Tuesday at a hospital near Hamilton after being on dialysis for several months, reports Radio New Zealand.
Te Atairangikaahu’s body will lie in state for a week at Turangawaewae, the headquarters of her Kingitanga movement, in New Zealand’s North Island. She will be buried with her ancestors on the sacred mountain of Taupiri, says the report. Her successor is expected to be announced next week. … Read full obituary
