Background
Paki was born in Huntly. His father was Wetere Paki of the Ngāti Whawhakia subtribe of the Waikato tribe. His mother Frances Paki (née Brown) was from Te Aupōuri, the northernmost Māori iwi, or tribal group, in New Zealand.
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Whatumoana Paki
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Career
Paki was the husband of the Māori Queen, Te Atairangikaahu, who reigned from 1966 to 2006. He and Te Atairangikaahu were the parents of the present Māori King, Tuheitia Paki. Paki worked as a farmer and coalminer during his early career.
He became one of the principal maintenance people for Māori marae located along the Waikato River, which includes the Mangatautari marae.
The couple married in 1952. They had seven children - Heeni Wharemaru, Kiri Tokia Ete Tomairangi, Tuheitia, Maharaia, Mihikiteao, Kiki and Te Manawanui.
They lived at Waahi Pā in Huntly, in a home Paki helped to build. King Korokī died in 1966.
Paki"s wife succeeded her father as Māori Queen and became known as Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu.
As the consort of the Queen, Paki had to step back from public statements and defer public opinions to her. Gosh, I know some men who wouldn"t have done that for anything. But he did it with panache and he was a tower of strength behind Dame Te Ata."
Dame Te Atairangikaahu died in 2006 after 54 years of marriage.
Paki"s son Tuheitia Paki, succeeded his mother as Māori king.
Instead, Paki planted a breed of purple roses, named specifically for Te Atairangikaahu, around a memorial stone at their home in Waahi Pā. Paki continued to live at his home at Waahi Pā following Te Atairangikaahu"s death.
He was ill and hospitalized for much of 2011. However, Paki checked himself out of the hospital in August 2011 to attend his son"s fifth coronation (Koroneihana) anniversary celebrations, and pōwhiri.
Paki died on 22 September 2011, at the age of 85, after a long illness.
His funeral was held at his home at Waahi Pā, Huntly, with dignitaries attending from as far away as the Cook Islands, Hawaii, and Samoa. He was driven to Mount Taupiri in a 1930 Model A Ford, which he had helped restore.
Achievements
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Born
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Died
September 22, 2011 (aged 84) -
Nationality
New Zealand