Ngā Puhi

Infobox Iwi
iwi_name =PAGENAME


iwi_location =Northland
waka =Māmari, Mataatua, Ngātokimatawhaorua, Māhūhū, Ruakaramea
population =122,214
united_tribes_no. =
url =http://www.ngapuhi.iwi.nz/

Ngā Puhi is a Māori iwi located in the Northland region of New Zealand. Ngā Puhi has the largest affiliation of any New Zealand iwi, with 122,214 people registered (2006 census). [cite web|title=2006 Census – QuickStats About Māori (revised)|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/census/2006-census-data/quickstats-about-maori/2006-census-quickstats-about-maori-revised.htm?page=para009Master|publisher=Statistics New Zealand|date=2007-04-04|accessdate=2007-05-25] The people of Ngā Puhi are centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands and Whāngārei. The iwi comprises 150 hapu, with 55 marae.

History

Foundations

The founding ancestor of Ngā Puhi is Rāhiri, the son of Tauramoko and Te Hauangiangi. Tauramoko was a descendant of Kupe, from "Matawhaorua", and Nukutawhiti, of the "Ngātokimatawhaorua" canoe. Te Hauangiangi was the daughter of Puhi, who captained the "Mataatua" canoe northwards from the Bay of Plenty.

Through intermarriage with other iwi and expansionist land migration, the descendants of Rāhiri formed tribes across the Northland peninsula. These actions also fostered ties with neighbouring iwi. The name "Ngā Puhi" came to describe the tribes settled in the Hokianga and Bay of Islands.

Hosting the first Christian mission

Ruatara was chief of the Ngā Puhi from 1812 to his death in 1815. In 1814, he invited missionaries Samuel Marsden and Thomas Kendall to set up the first ever Christian mission in New Zealand, on Ngā Puhi land. The presence of these influential Pakeha secured Ruatara's access to European plants, technology, knowledge and weapons, which he distributed to other Maori, thus increasing his mana. After his death, his uncle Hongi Hika became protector of the mission. It did not succeed in converting a single Maori until 1830; Ruatara and Hongi Hika themselves welcomed the missionaries' presence, but did not convert. [James Belich, "Making Peoples; A History of the New Zealanders", 1996, ISBN 0-8248-2517-9, pp.141-168.]

Musket Wars

By the early 19th century, the Bay of Islands had become a prominent shipping port in New Zealand. Through increased trade with Europeans, initiated by Ruatara, Ngā Puhi gained greater access to European goods, including muskets. Armed with European firearms, Ngā Puhi, led by Hongi Hika, launched a series of expansionist campaigns, with resounding victories across Northland and in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. ("see Musket Wars")

Land Wars

In 1840, the Ngā Puhi chiefs were all signatories to the Treaty of Waitangi, under the persuasion that the treaty was primarily for their protection against unscrupulous European settlers. However, from 1845-1846, Ngā Puhi fought against the British Crown over treaty disputes and European encroachment and interference. The Māori forces were led by Hone Heke, who famously chopped down the flagpole at Kororāreka. Leading Māori forces from the Bay of Islands, Heke fought not only against British troops but also pro-government Hokianga Māori. Initial victories for Heke were countered with subsequent defeats, resulting in the eventual loss of over 2,000 km² of Ngā Puhi land from Māori control.

Twentieth century history

Amidst cultural and economic decline, the twentieth century saw a steady migration of Ngā Puhi Māori from Northland into other regions of the North Island, mainly Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty. In part, this has seen the organisation of Ngā Puhi into large geographic and urban divisions. [Events of August 2004 may have the effect of recognising Ngāti Hine as an independent iwi rather than a hapu of Ngā Puhi.]

Ngā Puhi today

Despite such geographical diversity, the people of Ngā Puhi maintain their shared history and self-identity. The iwi is administered by Te Rūnanga ā Iwi o Ngāpuhi, based in Kaikohe. The Rūnanga acts on behalf of the iwi in consultations with the New Zealand Government. It also ensures the equitable distribution of benefits from the 1992 settlement with the Government, and undertakes resource management and education initiatives.

ee also

*List of Māori iwi

Notes and references

* [http://www.ngapuhi.iwi.nz/ Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi website]
*Taonui, Rāwiri. [http://www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealanders/MaoriNewZealanders/NgaPuhi/en/ “Ngā Puhi”] Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 26 September 2006. (accessed 3 April 2007)