New Zealand's Maori king dies at the age of 69

The king of New Zealand's Indigenous Maori people, King Tuheitia died Friday while recovering from heart surgery at the age of 69. The King passed away peacefully surrounded by family, a spokesperson said, just days after celebrating the 18th anniversary of his coronation.

Maori King movement was founded in 1858 with the aim of uniting New Zealand's Indigenous Maori under a single sovereign. New Zealand's Maori currently make up about 17 percent of the population, or about 900,000 people.