The kīngitanga movement arose generally out of opposition to european expansion. Groups of Māori determined that if they could unite the disparate tribes under a single leader they would have more power to resist the british.
It only dates back to the 1800s and doesnt have the support of all tribes, but much like the european monarchs they are effectively just soft power figureheads.
Counterpoint to that, the guy had a known history of locking himself inside those things and trying to escape as a challenge.