EARLIEST  WHAKAPAPA  TRIBES

IWI,  OR  INDIVIDUAL

IMMEDIATE 

ORIGINS

LOCATIONS 

IN  TE  TAU  IHU

FATE, 

DESTINATION

Ngā Rapuwai

Possibly direct from the Pacific, either on Te Arai Te Uru waka or the Tairea.  Other traditions say they were from Taranaki.

To Whakatū  (Nelson) and spread from there to most of the South Island.

In western Te Tau Ihu until the 15^th century at least.  Eventually absorbed within Waitaha.

Waitaha

From Hawaiki.  Some accounts say they arrived on Te Arawa or Tākitimu waka c. 13^th – 14^th century, but most say the Uruao c. 850AD, under the captaincy of Rākaihautū and his son, Rākaihoua.

Rākaihautū made landfall at Whakatū (Nelson) and then explored the South Island before establishing the first settlement of Waitaha at Banks Peninsula.

Waitaha began the development of extensive gardens at Waimea near Nelson, and the large argillite quarries along the eastern ranges of Nelson.

Sections of Waitaha lived in the Wairau district until at least 16^th century before being forced south by Ngāti Māmoe.

THE  GREAT  MIGRATION  PERIOD;    13^TH – 15^TH  CENTURIES

IWI,  OR  INDIVIDUAL

IMMEDIATE 

ORIGINS

LOCATIONS 

IN  TE  TAU  IHU

FATE, 

DESTINATION

Kupe

Hawaiki on the Matahourua.  Lengthy stop-overs and many sagas in Te Tau Ihu, following initial landfalls on the east coast of the North Island.

Spent several weeks during course of 2 visits in Marlborough Sounds and Cloudy Bay where Kupe named many localities and created many features in the landscape.  Kereopa, a crew member, created the Boulder Bank enclosing Nelson Harbour.

Departed Te Tau Ihu for epic journey along West Coast of North Island before returning to Hawaiki.

Pōtoru

Hawaiki on Te Ririno in company with Turi and the Aotea for part of the voyage.

Caught in a storm and swept south after separating from Turi’s party on leaving the Kermadec Islands.

Wrecked on Boulder Bank at Whakatū with the loss of all hands.

Tarapounamu

Hawaiki on Tainui.  First settled in northern Taranaki but blown south in storm Puhi-Kai-Ariki to Rangitoto (D'Urville Island).

Brought followers and families from Taranaki to establish settlement at Moawhitu (Greville Harbour) on Rangitoto.

Community wiped out by tidal wave called Tapu-arero-utuutu.

Ngā Patea

Pre-Migration people of southern Taranaki.  Forced from that district by Turi’s incoming Aotea people.

Crossed to Taumatini near Motueka on ‘floating island’, led by Ruamano.

May have been a faction of Ngā Rapuwai.  Eventually moved west and south to South Westland.

Ngāti Kuia

Hawaiki on Kurahaupō.  Koangaumu and wife, Wainui-a-ono, disembarked at Te Tai Tapu in north-west of Mohua (Golden Bay) district.

Migrated eastwards over a period of years and eventually established settlements in Pelorus Valley and Sounds.

Descendants of Koangaumu and Wainui-a-ono took the name Ngāti Kuia and have remained in the region to the present day.

THE  FIFTEENTH  CENTURY

IWI,  OR  INDIVIDUAL

IMMEDIATE 

ORIGINS

LOCATIONS 

IN  TE  TAU  IHU

FATE, 

DESTINATION

Ngāti Wairangi

Whanganui – possibly a section of the Ngāti Hau iwi of that district.

To north-west Nelson districts, led by 2 chiefs – Tauirapareko and Tawhirikakahu.

Eventually forced into Buller and Westland by succeeding tribes such as Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri.

Pohea and followers  (Pohea was a gt-gt-grandson of Turi of the Aotea waka).

Whanganui district – a section of the Aotea people.  Fled south after Pohea’s murder of the chief, Turere Ao.

To Arapaoa Is. and then to Whakatū  where they built a pa called Matangi Āwhio near Port Nelson.

Killed at Arapaoa Is. by sister of Turere Ao;  survivors absorbed by other tribes.

Ngāti Kuia

Consolidated their occupation of the Pelorus Valley and Sound, Rangitoto and eastern Tasman Bay.

THE  SIXTEENTH  CENTURY

IWI,  OR  INDIVIDUAL

IMMEDIATE 

ORIGINS

LOCATIONS 

IN  TE  TAU  IHU

FATE, 

DESTINATION

Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri

Originally from the Taupo district, then to the coast via the Whanganui River.

To Sounds and Wairau initially but harried from there to Nelson and Westland regions.  Established strong communities from eastern Tasman Bay to Farewell Spit and south to Buller and Westland.

Pushed Ngāti Wairangi south of Mawhera (Grey) districts of Westland.  Dominated central and western districts and hinterlands for at least 2 centuries.

Ngāi Tara faction at Waimea

Te Mata o Te Kai Poika – pa at Hataitai in Wellington Harbour.

Outpost established at Waimea.  Joined by Tumaro and father, Kahukura-nui, in mid-1500s.

A visiting young chief from Hataitai, Tuahuriri, became involved in dispute with locals.  Community at Waimea disappeared soon after, perhaps conquered or perhaps through outbreak of leprosy.

Ngāti Kuia

Still firmly ensconced at Pelorus, Rangitoto and eastern Whakatū.

Occasionally embroiled in disputes with other iwi passing through, or attempting to gain territory in Te Tau Ihu.

 SEVENTEENTH  AND  EIGHTEENTH  CENTURIES

IWI,  OR  INDIVIDUAL

IMMEDIATE 

ORIGINS

LOCATIONS 

IN  TE  TAU  IHU

FATE, 

DESTINATION

Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri

Continued to consolidate their hold over territories from eastern Tasman Bay to Onetahua (Farewell Spit) and hinterlands and coast south to Mawhera (Grey districts).

1642:  killed 4 of Abel Tasman’s crewmen off Wharawharangi Beach in eastern Mohua (Golden Bay).

Ngāi Tara

Displaced from settlements in Queen Charlotte Sound, Pelorus Sound and Valley, mainly by Ngāti Kuia.

Forced west, to Whakatū and Waimea.

Eventually seemed to disappear from Te Tau Ihu – either retreated across Cook Strait to Wellington districts or were absorbed by other local iwi.

Te Koheta

  (late 1700s)

Blown south to Mohua (Golden Bay) from northern Taranaki.

‘Adopted’ by Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri – became one of their fighting chiefs.

Killed c. 1812 by Ngāi Tahu or Ngāti Apa.

Ngāti Kuia

Firmly based in Pelorus Sound and Valley and Rangitoto.  Factions met Captain Cook during his 1770s visits.

Evicted Ngāi Tara from Pelorus Sound etc;  occasional skirmishes with Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri on western flanks, and raids against Ngāi Tahu on Kaikoura Coast.

Ngāti Apa ki Te Ra To

Rangitikei and Kapiti Coast.

Came in strength to Te Tau Ihu, mainly to Waimea, Motueka and districts to westwards.  Battled with Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri.

Began to establish bases throughout Nelson region and in Buller district. Also established communities in outer Pelorus and Queen Charlotte Sound.

NINETEENTH  CENTURY

IWI,  OR  INDIVIDUAL

IMMEDIATE 

ORIGINS

LOCATIONS 

IN  TE  TAU  IHU

FATE, 

DESTINATION

Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri

Assailed on all flanks – by Ngāti Kuia on the eastern flank, by Ngāti Apa flotillas on the northern flank from Waimea to Mohua, and by Ngāi Tahu in the southern and western coastal districts and hinterlands.

Decimated by loss of most of their warriors in an abortive attack on Kapiti Is.  Others defeated at Kotukuwhakaoho in Grey Valley, and at Te Tai Tapu near Farewell Spit.  Most remnants were finally annihilated in the Paparoa Ranges in the Buller district, c. 1810-1812.

Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō

Consolidated their holdings from Waimea, west to Mohua and Buller.  Also in Queen Charlotte Sound.

Severely assailed by incoming alliance of Tainui and Taranaki iwi c. 1828 – 1832, but survive as one of the tangata whenua of Te Tau Ihu.

Ngāti Kuia

Continued to occupy Pelorus Sound and Valley, Rangitoto and eastern Tasman Bay – Croisilles, Whakatu etc.

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Ngāti Koata

Ngāti Rārua

Ngāti Toa

Ngāti Tama

Te Atiawa

Tainui tribes from Kawhia and north Taranaki tribes formed an alliance led by Te Rauparaha of Ngāti Toa to Te Tau Ihu c. 1828 – 1832 after conquering much of the southern North Island.

Armed with musketry and cannon, and sometimes transported in whaling vessels, this alliance conquered the Te Tau Ihu tribes and made devastating raids into east and west strongholds of Ngāi Tahu. 

Became the manawhenua tribes of much of Te Tau Ihu;  remnants of Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Kuia and Rangitane survived into colonial times and to the present day.