Dear Editor, The forthcoming investiture of the new Makea Nui Ariki is long overdue.

This is an ancient and revered tribal title in Te Au of Tonga which dates from after the arrival of Karika Ariki and his tribe from the sacred island of Manu’a.

Many centuries later, there was a vast shift just a few generations prior to the arrival to the Gospel when the title was taken by Te Pa Atua-Kino. He was followed by his son Pini, and in turn, his son Tinirau. 

This has been documented in the twilight years of Tinirau, when the ship carrying Reverend John Williams of London Missionary Society and his band of Tahitian preachers arrived at Avarua in July 1823.

The conversion to Christianity was met with resistance. One of the Tahitian preachers was Papeiha, and with great courage and patience – with the help of local supporters – succeeded in converting an Ariki named Tinomana Ariki of Puaikura to accept the Gospel, along with his entire tribe. 

Soon afterwards, Makea Nui of Te-Au-o-Tonga also accepted the Gospel and so did his entire tribe.

Rev John Williams, wrote a bestselling book called Missionary Enterprises published in 1939. In that book, Williams wrote that the reigning Makea at the time was Makea Pori. His father, Tinirau was still living but had retired and was treated as the respected Metua of the current Ariki. From then onwards the successors to Makea Nui Ariki title has been documented in writing, rather than by oral history only.

From these records, we know that Makea Pori died in October 1839, and the next Makea was his eldest son, Tavita (David) who held the title until he died in 1845.  After him, the title continued to his next sibling, his sister Tevaerua who held the title until she died on 3rd August 1857. Next was her brother Daniela who held the title until he passed away on 14th December 1866. The last of the siblings to become Makea Nui, was Apera. Apera held the title till he passed away on 24 December 1871.

The title then passed to the next generation, to Takau, the daughter of Davida. She held the title from 1871 until 1st May 1911. The latter was known to the New Zealand Administration as “Queen Takau”. She had no children but as she was nearing the end of her life, she ensured that her first cousin, Rangimakea would be her successor.

He was the eldest son of Apera (who held the title immediately before Takau).  They were very close, like sister and brother, according to Queen Takau herself. 

Rangimakea held the title from 1911 to 24th July 1921.

His son Tinirau succeeded to the Makea Nui title until he passed away on 26 January 1939. After he died, his successor was his daughter Takau, namesake of her grand-Aunt, Queen Takau. 

Takau II had been married to Colonel Love of the NZ Maori battalion but he died while on a tour of duty in WWII. Takau II became Makea Nui and held the title until she passed away on 15 September 1947.

The next Makea Nui was her younger sister, Teremoana, who held the title for many years until she died on 9 March 1994.

After Makea Teremoana died, there were two competing candidates to claim the Makea Nui title: one was Inanui Love, twin daughter of Makea Nui Takau II, and her cousin, Mere Macquarie, the younger daughter of Teremoana. They both had traditional investitures with many supporters on both sides. 

The competing applications were heard in the Cook Islands Land Court in 1995.

The hearing included submissions from Paula Lineen, elder sister of Mere Macquarie. Mrs Lineen had not had an investiture but nevertheless claimed that as the elder daughter of Makea Teremoana, she had precedence over her sister Mere. It also seems that Mrs Lineen claimed that the title had moved to her Mother’s line, or words to that effect.

To the disappointment of the parties involved, the Land Court dismissed all three applications despite all three ladies being direct descendants of a Makea Nui title holder. 

The decision caused much confusion because if the offspring of a person recognised as Makea Nui Ariki is not accepted as the successor, then who should it be?

From then onwards, Ngati Makea has been without an Ariki but many contenders.

All have been rejected by the Court, who have gone way past their authority and have tried to impose their viewpoint with conditions that are difficult if not impossible to achieve. 

Now we have Susan Love with a strong claim as her Mother is Mokoroa-ki-Aitu, the eldest daughter of Makea Nui Takau II.

There is great excitement in the air, with many of us in Ngati Makea that are delighted that Susan Love is stepping up to the mark to take her rightful place as Makea Nui Ariki. 

We wish her all the best for now and into the future. 

Kia manuia,

Makea Nui Kopu Ariki Family member

(Name and address supplied)