Makea Te Vaerua Ariki (b?–1857) was a sovereign of the Cook Islands. She was the ariki (queen or high chiefess) of the Makea Nui (Great Makea) dynasty, one of the three chiefdoms of the Te Au O Tonga tribe on the island of Rarotonga.

Makea Te Vaerua Ariki
High Chiefess of Te Au O Tonga
Reign1845–1857
PredecessorMakea Davida Ariki
SuccessorMakea Daniela Ariki
BornUnknown
Avarua, Rarotonga
Diedcirca 1857
SpousePapelna (?–1901) or Tiberio, Pastor of the LMS
IssueMakea Takau Ariki
HouseHouse of Te Au O Tonga
DynastyMakea Nui dynasty
FatherMakea Pori Ariki

Makea Te Vaerua succeeded her elder brother Makea Davida with the involvement of the missionaries and her village was the headquarters of the mission. She was the first female to succeed the title of ariki, even though she had surviving younger brothers.[1] Hers was a peaceful reign. She supported the work of the mission and was very hospitable to all the missionaries of her time. She married the Tahitian missionary Tiberio (also known as Rio).

She was the eldest daughter of Makea Pori Ariki and the birth-mother of Makea Takau.[2] She was succeeded after her death by her younger brother, Makea Daniela.[3][4]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Crocombe, R. G. (1964). Land Tenure in the Cook Islands. Oxford University Press. p. 229. ASIN B0000CMH60.
  2. ^ Crocombe, Marjorie (1983). Cannibals and Converts. University of the South Pacific. p. 97. ISBN 9820201667.
  3. ^ "Cook Islands Heads of State". Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  4. ^ Crocombe, Marjorie (1983). Cannibals and Converts. University of the South Pacific. p. 96. ISBN 9820201667.

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