The Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu travelled extensively overseas. In 1975, she undertook her first official tour, accepting an invitation from the British government.  Along the way she visited India, where she was the guest of President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and visited Hawaiʻi where she met HRH Princess Helena Kalokuokamaile, Head of the Royal House of Hawaiʻi  and other princessʻ of the royal family. 

 

At the Vatican, Te Atairangikaahu was received in private by Pope Paul VI.  She attended the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 as a member of the New Zealand delegation, and gave a speech. She was also a strong supporter of the Pacific Arts Festival held every four years.

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Queen Elizabeth II creates the Maori Queen, Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu as a Dame Commander of the British Empire in an investiture ceremony at Wellington Town Hall, during her tour of New Zealand in March of 1970. She is there in connection with the bicentenary of Captain Cook's 1770 expedition to Australia.