Thread by @salty_kiwi

I was telling my Australian mate a few basic things about the Kiingitanga movement, and it occurred to me that maybe some New Zealanders would like some 101 level info as well. So if that is you, here goes. 🧵 1/9.

The Kiingitanga movement was established in 1858 as a direct challenge to the colonial monarchy. It was started by Waikato-Tainui iwi, and aimed to unite Māori under a single sovereign. Not all iwi agreed, including major Māori iwi such as Tūhoe and Ngāpuhi. 2/9

Some iwi disagreed because they didn't want to be under the umbrella of another iwi, even for only ceremonial purposes. Others disagreed because the idea of a monarchy is inherently colonial, not indigenous. 3/9

However, over time the political importance of the Kiingi or Kuini has grown. In particular, the annual commemoration of coronation (Te Koroneihana) has become a major political event attended by major political parties. The most recent Koroneihana was August 15, 2024. 4/9

The kiingitanga is supported by an advisory group of 12 called the Tekau-mā-rua, who also decide on the successor when a monarch dies. Originally this group consisted of Waikato-Tainui representatives. However, King Tuheitia re-established the Tekau-mā-rua as a national group 5/9

Interestingy, even though Tūhoe and Ngapūhi (also two iwi who have had their sovereignty explicitly recognised by the Waitangi Tribunal) never formally recognised the kiingitanga, iwi such as Tūhoe have had representatives within the tekau-mā-rua. 6/9

The Kiingitanga is an electoral rather than inheritance monarchy. The new kuini is the youngest daughter of the previous kiingi. Succession is not based on being an eldest child of the previous monarch. It is based upon the approval of the Tekau-mārua 7/9
1news.co.nz/2024/09/03/kii…

The double vowel spelling of kiingitanga is a reflection of the Waikato-Tainui origins of the movement. Tainui use double vowels instead of macrons. I would spell it Kīngitanga if I was using my usual Māori spelling. 8/9

Finally, construction of Māori words is useful. Adding -tanga onto a word changes a noun to a verb. Whānau = family. Whanaunga = blood relation. Whanaungatanga = forming relationships.
Think of kiingitanga the same way; it's a political movement not a passive entity. /ENDS.

Sorry, I know I said I was finished. But the obvious precursor to te kiingitanga was He Whakaputanga; The Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand (sometimes called the United Tribes D.o.I) signed in 1835. Where we were united, but not under a "single sovereign."