Tumu Te Heuheu Tūkino VIII
Sir Tumu Te Heuheu | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Te Heuheu in 2015 | |
| Paramount chief of Ngāti Tūwharetoa | |
| In office 1997 – 23 September 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Hepi Hoani Te Heuheu Tūkino VII |
| Succeeded by | Gerard Te Rangimaheu Te Heuheu Tukino IX |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tumu Gerard Te Heuheu Tūkino 22 August 1941 Little Waihi, New Zealand |
| Died | 23 September 2025 (aged 84) |
| Spouse(s) | Susan, Lady Te Heuheu |
| Parent | Sir Hepi Hoani Te Heuheu Tūkino VII (father) |
| Education | St Patrick's College, Silverstream |
Sir Tumu Gerard Te Heuheu Tūkino VIII KNZM (22 August 1941 – 23 September 2025) was a New Zealand Māori tribal leader. He was the eighth elected ariki and paramount chief of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa iwi in the central North Island, and an influential figure among Māori people throughout New Zealand.
Early life and family
Te Heuheu was born at Little Waihi on 22 August 1941,[1][2] the son of Hepi Te Heuheu Tūkino VII, the previous elected chief, and Pauline Te Heuheu.[2] He was educated at St Patrick's College, Silverstream.[3] He was a pilot and a former employee of Air New Zealand.[4]
Te Heuheu was married to Susan, Lady Te Heuheu, and they lived in Taupō.[1]
Roles
Te Heuheu succeeded his father as ariki in 1997.[2] He was the chair of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust's Māori Heritage Council from 2004 to 2014,[5][6] a patron of the Tukia Group Board,[7] was the chair of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee,[8] the chairman of the Tūwharetoa Trust Board and chairman of the Lake Taupō and Lake Rotoaira Forest Trusts, and was a patron of the University of Auckland's Polynesian Society. He was a supporter of the Māori Excellence in Farming Awards.[9] Te Heuheu played a vital role in getting Tongariro National Park to have dual World Heritage status in 1993.[2] As part of his final wishes, he called for the return of Tongariro National Park to the Māori.[6]
Death
Te Heuheu died on 23 September 2025, at the age of 84.[10] His son Gerard Te Rangimaheu Te Heuheu Tūkino IX succeeded him as ariki.[4]
Honours and awards
In 1990, Te Heuheu received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[11] In the 2005 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to conservation.[12] Following the restoration of titular honours by the New Zealand government in 2009, he accepted redesignation as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.[13]
In 2007, Te Heuheu was awarded an honorary DPhil degree by Massey University.[14]
References
- ^ a b Dunlop, Mani (23 September 2025). "Tūwharetoa mourns death of paramount chief Sir Tumu Te Heuheu". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d Paewai, Pokere (23 September 2025). "Ngāti Tūwharetoa chief Sir Tumu Te Heuheu dies". RNZ News. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ Metge, Joan (March 2008). "Tumu Te Heuheu (Te Heuheu Tūkino VIII)". Journal of the Polynesian Society. 117 (1): 7–9. JSTOR 20707428. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ a b Harawira, Tumamao (28 September 2025). "Te Rangimaheu Te Heuheu Tūkino IX named as successor to Tā Tumu Te Heuheu as ariki of Ngāti Tūwharetoa". Te Ao Māori News.
- ^ "Maori Heritage Council". New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Archived from the original on 2 June 2010.
- ^ a b Partsch, Niki (29 September 2025). "Te Ariki Sir Tumu Te Heuheu Tūkino VIII passes away". Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.
- ^ "Tukia Group Board". Tukia Group. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011.
- ^ "UNESCO World Heritage Centre – 31st session of the World Heritage Committee". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "Napier woman Chloe Butcher-Herries recognised as outstanding young Māori farmer". The New Zealand Herald. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ Paewai, Pokere (23 September 2025). "'Quietly spoken leader with immense mana' – tributes flow for Sir Tumu Te Heuheu". RNZ News. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 362. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
- ^ "New Year honours list 2005". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "Special honours list". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 August 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "Honorary degree citations". Tāmiro. Massey University Library. Retrieved 24 September 2025.