Tumu Te Heuheu Tūkino VIII

Sir Tumu Te Heuheu Tūkino VIII KNZM (born 1942 or 1943) is a New Zealand Māori tribal leader. He is the eighth elected paramount chief of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa iwi in the central North Island, and an influential figure among Māori people throughout New Zealand.

Sir Tumu Te Heuheu Tūkino VIII KNZM
Te Heuheu in 2012
Chief of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa iwi
Incumbent
Assumed office 1997 (1997)
Preceded by	Sir Hepi Hoani Te Heuheu Tūkino VII
Personal details
Born	Tumu Te Heuheu Tūkino VIII 1942 or 1943 (age 81–82)
Nationality	New Zealander
Parent	Sir Hepi Hoani Te Heuheu Tūkino VII (father)
Education	St Patrick's College, Silverstream

Biography

Te Heuheu is the chair of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust's Maori Heritage Council,^[1] a patron of the Tukia Group Board,^[2] has been the chair of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee,^[3] has been the chairman of the Tüwharetoa Trust Board and chairman of the Lake Taupō and Lake Rotoaira Forest Trusts, and is a patron of the University of Auckland's Polynesian Society. He is a supporter of the Māori Excellence in Farming Awards.^[4]

Te Heuheu was born in 1942 or 1943,^[5] and attended St Patrick's College, Silverstream.

He is the son of Sir Hepi Te Heuheu Tukino VII, the previous elected chief. He is married to Lady Susan Te Heuheu: the couple lives in Taupō.

Honours

In the 2005 New Year Honours, Te Heuheu was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to conservation.^[6] 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.^[7]

References

1. "Maori Heritage Council". New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Archived from the original on 2 June 2010.
2. "Tukia Group Board". tukiagroup.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011.
3. "UNESCO World Heritage Centre - 31st session of the World Heritage Committee". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
4. "Napier woman Chloe Butcher-Herries recognised as outstanding young Māori farmer". NZ Herald. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
5. Tahana, Yvonne (23 June 2007). "Our guardian of world heritage". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
6. "New Year honours list 2005". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
7. "Special honours list". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 August 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2018.