Sir Tumu Te Heuheu Tūkino VIII KNZM, the ariki and paramount chief of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, has died. He was 84.
In a statement, Te Kapua Whakapipi the Office of the Ariki confirmed his passing, saying Tūwharetoa and Te Whare o Te Heuheu had been left bereft at the loss of their humble chief, Ariki Tā Tumu Te Heuheu Tukino VIII.
He passed away overnight in hospital after a period of illness.
Born on the shores of Little Waihi to the late Ariki Sir Hepi Te Heuheu and Lady Pauline Te Heuheu, Sir Tumu leaves behind a proud legacy, said the announcement by Te Kapua Whakapipi.
His life was dedicated to the people, the whenua and the maunga. He passed peacefully with his wife Lady Susan Te Heuheu and whānau by his side, the statement said.
Sir Tumu was the eighth elected paramount chief Ngāti Tūwharetoa and an influential figure among Māori. He was educated at St Patrick's College, Silverstream.
Sir Tumu was the chair of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust's Māori Heritage Council, a patron of the Tukia Group Board, was the first New Zealander to chair the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, 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.
He was instrumental in Tongariro National Park becoming one of the first places in the world to be granted dual World Heritage status in 1993, recognising both its cultural and natural values.
In the 2005 New Year Honours, Te Heuheu was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to conservation. 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.
He made a public appearance at this year’s Koroneihana, the first for Te Arikinui Ngawai hono i te po, where he was acknowledged for his decades of service.
The process of arranging the tangihanga is now underway with a timetable below.
The Office of the Ariki said at some point a whānau spokesperson would be available for media, but other comment or coverage was not envisaged outside the yet to be announced briefing.
Funeral times
The tangihanga proceedings will be held at Tapeka Marae, Waihī, Tūrangi, from Friday September 26 2025. On each day there will be two sessions at the marae – the first with a 7.30am arrival at Te Matapuna (Tūrangitukua Park) with a 9am whakaeke, and the afternoon session with an 11.30am arrival at Te Matapuna with a 1pm whakaeke.
Friday: Tairāwhiti (am) and Te Arawa, Manuao o Te Hāhi Rātana (pm)
Saturday: Mataatua Waka, Tauranga Moana (am), Taranaki, Takitimu me Ngā Iwi o te Motu (pm)
Sunday: Kai Tahu me te Tai Tokerau (am), Nga Iwi o te Motu (pm)
Monday: Private
There will be no parking at Waihī. All manuhiri are to check in and park at Hirangi Marae or Tūrangitukua Park, Hirangi Rd, Tūrangi. Buses will transfer attendees between carparks and to and from Waihī Marae until pōwhiri end. Wheelchair accessible parking will be available. Mourners are asked to follow the directions of kaimahi at Tūrangitukua Park.
