Ngāti Tūwharetoa

Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Iwi of New Zealand
Eastern Lake Taupo, Turangi to Taupo
Rohe (location)	Central North Island
Waka (canoe)	Arawa
Population	29,301
"United Tribes" number	46
Website	http://www.tuwharetoa.iwi.nz/

Ngāti Tūwharetoa is an iwi (Māori tribe) descended from Ngātoro-i-rangi, the priest who navigated the Arawa canoe to New Zealand. The Tūwharetoa region extends from Te Awa o te Atua (Tarawera River) at Matata across the central plateau of the North Island to the lands around Mount Tongariro and Lake Taupo.

The iwi is identified by the saying: Mai Te Awa o te Atua ki Tongariro, ko Tongariro te Maunga, ko Taupo te Moana, ko Tūwharetoa te Iwi, ko te Heuheu te Tangata (From Te Awa o te Atua to Tongariro, Tongariro is the Mountain, Taupo-nui-a-Tia is the Lake, Tūwharetoa is the Tribe, te Heuheu is the Man.)

Tūwharetoa is the sixth largest iwi in Aotearoa with a population of 30,000 (NZ Census 2001) comprising a number of hapu (subtribes) represented by 33 marae. This collective is bound together by the legacy of Ngātoro-i-rangi as epitomised in the Ariki (Paramount Chief). 40% of Ngāti Tūwharetoa are under the age of 15.

History

Ngāti Tūwharetoa are descendants of the powerful tohunga and navigator, Ngātoro-i-rangi who piloted the great waka Te Arawa from Hawaiki to Aotearoa. Ngātoro-i-rangi was tricked onto the Te Arawa waka by the chief Tama-te-kapua as it was considered good luck to have him aboard. He was originally destined to travel aboard the Tainui waka. This greatly angered Ngātoro-i-rangi and his disdain and animosity of the Te Arawa chief led to his leaving the group soon after arrival.

In Aotearoa they made landfall at Te Awa o Te Atua, and Ngātoro-i-rangi departed heading inland to Te Takanga i o Apa (Kawerau area), thence to Ruawahia where he encountered the monstrous Tama o Hoi and eventually reaching Taupo district where he climbed Mount Tauhara.

From Tauhara, Ngātoro-i-rangi made his way to Tongariro with the intention of standing on its summit and thus claiming the district as his own. While climbing the mountain a powerful southerly wind whipped his face, icy gales chiselled the warmth from his body while the frozen volcano cut painfully into his feet eventually bringing him to his knees with cold. As Ngātoro-i-rangi lay dying he called to his sisters Kuiwai and Haungaroa in Hawaikii, to send fire to warm him, "Kuiwai e! Haungaroa e! Ka riro au i te tonga! Tukuna mai he ahi! (Oh Kuiwai! Oh Haungaroa! I am seized by the cold south wind! Send fire to me!)

Ketetahi Springs

Western Taupo Steam and Hot Springs

Western Taupo looking north

Heeding his call, they sent fire in the form of two taniwha (daemons), Te Pupu and Te Hoata. As they travelled underground the flames first erupted at White Island, then Rotorua and Taupo, finally bursting at the feet of Ngātoro-i-rangi, welling up from the large vent in the volcano’s summit, warming the tohunga and thus allowing him to achieve his goal.

On the summit of Tongariro Ngātoro-i-rangi gave thanks and established 'Te Wharetoa o Tūmatauenga' The Warrior House of Tū - the legacy of Tūwharetoa.

Ngātoro-i-rangi did not remain at Tongariro,instead returning to the coast to live out his life at Motiti Island. His descendants settled at Te Awa o Te Atua inland to Kawerau increasing over the generations until the time of Mawake Taupo, 8th generation descendant of Ngātoro-i-rangi. Mawake Taupo took as wife a woman of the Hapuoneone named Hahuru and their son Manaia would eventually take the name Tuwharetoa

Ngāti Tūwharetoa structure

The sons of Tūwharetoa moved from Kawerau across Waiariki and eventually into the district around Taupo and by skill at arms, strategy and might eventually established the rohe of Tūwharetoa settling in three divisions at Kawerau, Waiariki and Tongariro.

Mai Te Awa o Te Atua Ki Tongariro, Tūwharetoa Ki Kawerau, Tūwharetoa Ki Waiariki, Tūwharetoa Ki te Tonga (From Te Awa-o-te-Atua to Tongariro, Tūwharetoa at Kawerau, Tūwharetoa at Waiariki, Tūwharetoa at Tongariro)

This pepeha (tribal saying) describes the tribal boundaries of Ngāti Tūwharetoa extending from Te Awa o Te Atua (a confluence of rivers at Matata) south to Tongariro

Lists of Paramount Chiefs

• Herea te Heuheu Tūkino I.
• Mananui te Heuheu Tūkino II, (famous Warrior/Military Tactician).
• Iwikau te Heuheu Tūkino III, (famous statesman).
• Horonuku Pataatai te Heuheu Tūkino IV, (bequeathed Tongariro National Park to the Nation).
• Tūreiti te Heuheu Tūkino V.
• Hoani te Heuheu Tūkino VI, (Kakahi-Pūkawa Railway Line).
• Sir Hepi Hoani te Heuheu Tūkino VII KBE, (Lake Taupo Negotiations).
• Sir Tumu te Heuheu Tūkino VIII KNZM, (Appointed in 2006 World Heritage Chairperson).

See also

• Te Heuheu

External links

• Images of New Zealand Rakiura Images
• http:www.teheuheu.com
• Tūwharetoa Website
• Tūwharetoa Trust Board
• Tūwharetoa Ki Kawerau

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• Ngāti Tūwharetoa in Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

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