Maori monarchs are buried in unmarked graves just like their subjects.

In 2006, the Maori Queen’s death attracted a mass to mourners to her burial. Judging from the number of people who attended her funeral, it is easy to see that she was important and revered. Yet, her grave gives no indication of that; it is unmarked and ordinary just like everyone else’s.

This tradition burial is a symbol of equality- it shows that she was just one of the people. It implies that no one person is superior to the others, not even monarchs. Instead of ruling over their people, they were meant to work with them. Check out the picture on the right to see what a typical Maori graveyard looks like, and visit the source for more information!