The Māori King Movement or Kīngitanga is a movement that arose among some Māori tribes in the 1850s to establish a symbolic role similar in status to that of the monarch of the British colonists.

The position of Māori monarch is a non-constitutional role with no legal power but it is a symbolic role of great prestige (mana). Since the 1850s the role has been vested in the Tainui iwi (tribe) who agreed to guard the position when it was created. The current Māori monarch, Tuheitia Paki, is descended from the first Māori king, Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, and was elected in 2006.

Since it was established, the Kīngitanga movement and influence have expanded and are recognised and respected by Māori in many parts of New Zealand today.

The position of Māori monarch is not hereditary in principle. The monarch is appointed by the leaders of the tribes involved in the Kīngitanga movement on the day of the previous monarch’s funeral and before the burial. However, to date all Māori monarchs have been direct descendants of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, the first Māori king, and each monarch has been succeeded by a son or daughter.

Pōtatau, Māori King (1856 – 1860)Tāwhiao, Māori King (1860 – 1894)Mahuta, Māori King (1894 – 1912)Te Rata, Māori King (1912 – 1933)Korokī, Māori King (1933 – 1966)Dame Te Atairangikaahu, Māori Queen (1966 – 2006)Tuheitia Paki, Māori King (2006 – )

The three stamps in the set each reference a well known proverb that Pōtatau Te Wherowhero is identified with.