Tauatomo Mairau (died May 17, 2013) was a member of the royal
Tahiti
Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Austra ...
an family of Mairau, a descendant of Tahiti’s
Queen Pōmare IV. He was born on the island of
Rurutu.
As of February 2009, Tauatomo Mairau claimed to be the heir to the
Tahitian throne, and attempted to re-assert the status of the monarchy in court. His claims were not recognised by France.
In 2010, he claimed he was recognized as the heir to the throne and bear the title ''Prince Marau of Tahiti''. He was working to have royal trust lands returned to him and his family. The French government mortgaged the land after World War II, and in doing so violated the terms of the agreement signed with
King Pōmare V in 1880 which reserved control of the trust lands for the
royal family of Tahiti. The banks are reportedly in the process of freezing the assets, and Mairau was suing to prevent
native Tahitians
The Tahitians ( ty, Māohi; french: Tahitiens) are the Polynesian ethnic group indigenous to Tahiti and thirteen other Society Islands in French Polynesia. The numbers may also include the modern population in these islands of mixed Polynesia ...
from being evicted from his trust lands, and wished for them to retain their usage rights over the land.
On May 17, 2013, he died in
Papeete.
References
Pretenders
Pōmare dynasty
2013 deaths
Year of birth missing
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