Ngā Ariki Kaipūtahi

Ngā Ariki Kaipūtahi, or Ngāriki Kaiputahi, is the principle indigenous tribe (Māori iwi) in the Mangatu area of Te Tairawhiti/Gisborne District of Aotearoa New Zealand. The official tribal designation is 'Te Iwi o Ngā Ariki Kaipūtahi'.

Ngā Ariki Kaipūtahi was and is a sovereign tribe with its own lands, laws, traditions and form of government centered around an ancient pattern of Ariki (High Born) and Rangatira (leaders) of chiefly lineage. The origins of Ngā Ariki Kaipūtahi people claim a literal descent from the four Ariki (Lords) of the Heavens: Ariki, Ariki Nui, Ariki Roa, and Ariki Tawhito.

Then when the Ariki descended to earth the lineage continued down through the children of the Ariki who are the earliest inhabitants of Aotearoa, pre-dating by some 500 years the contemporary concept of 'Te Māori', the Maori people, as connected to the major waka migrations of the "Great Fleet".

While there have been a few tribes descended from or recognizing the Ariki tradition, including Nga Ariki (of Ngati Apa), Ngariki Rotoawe (Turanga - no longer existent), Ngariki Po (Turanga - no longer existent), Ngā Ariki Kaipūtahi are one of remaining active tribes that holds its Mana Motuhake (authority) as direct descendents from these original peoples of Aotearoa called by various names 'Te Ariki', 'Moriori', 'Panenehu', and 'Turehu'^[1].

That Mana Motuhaka is better defined in its parts as: Mana Atua (Authority from the Gods) through the four Ariki; Mana Tupuna - an unbroken line of Ariki and Rangatira to the present day generation; Mana Whenua - undisturbed possession of the Mangatu lands for over 700 years; Mana Tangata - the present day tribal sovereign government.

In its contemporary form, Te Iwi o Ngā Ariki Kaipūtahi consist of 51 whanau (family groups) organized around a central tribal government made up of three branches: Kahui Ariki (judicial), Kahui Rangatira (legislative), and Taua (executive), as established by a constitution on the 29 January 2006.

References

1. ^ Lyall, A.C. "Whakatohea of Opotiki". Chapter 3, Ngariki. Pg 12.