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Ngai Tahu
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Ngai Tahu, or Kai Tahu, is the principal Maori iwi (tribe) of the southern region of New Zealand, with the tribal authority, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, being based in Christchurch and Invercargill. The iwi combines three groups, Kai Tahu itself, and Waitaha and Kati Mamoe who lived in the South Island prior to the arrival of Kai Tahu. The five primary hapu of the three combined groups are Kati Kuri, Ngati Irakehu, Kati Huirapa, Ngai Tuahuriri and Ngai Te Ruakihikihi.
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Encyclopedia
Ngai Tahu, or Kai Tahu, is the principal Maori iwi (tribe) of the southern region of New Zealand, with the tribal authority, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, being based in Christchurch and Invercargill. The iwi combines three groups, Kai Tahu itself, and Waitaha and Kati Mamoe who lived in the South Island prior to the arrival of Kai Tahu. The five primary hapu of the three combined groups are Kati Kuri, Ngati Irakehu, Kati Huirapa, Ngai Tuahuriri and Ngai Te Ruakihikihi. Some people claim to be explicitly descended from one or both of Waitaha and Kati Mamoe whanui, often in conjunction with Kai Tahu. However, others argue that due to conflict and intermarriage these groups have been incorporated into Kai Tahu, and are no longer distinct.
The iwi's takiwa (tribal area), the largest in New Zealand, extends from Kaikoura in the north to Stewart Island/Rakiura in the south, and includes the West Coast area, Tai Poutini. Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu constitutes 18 runanga/runaka representing geographical areas, generally based around traditional settlements.
History
Ngai Tahu trace their traditional descent from Tahupotiki, the younger brother of Porou-rangi, founding ancestor of Ngati Porou, a tribe of the East Coast of the South Island. They originated on the east coast of the North Island, from where they migrated south to present-day Wellington. In the early 18th century they began migrating to the northern part of the South Island. There they and Kati Mamoe fought Ngai Tara and Rangitane in the Wairau Valley. Ngati Mamoe then ceded the east coast regions north of the Clarence River to Ngai Tahu. Ngai Tahu continued to push south, conquering Kaikoura. By the 1730s, Ngai Tahu had settled in Canterbury, including Banks Peninsula. From there they spread further south and into the West Coast.
In 1827-1828 Ngati Toa under the leadership of Te Rauparaha successfully attacked Ngai Tahu at Kaikoura. Ngati Toa then visited Kaiapoi, obstensibly to trade. When they attacked their hosts, the well-prepared Ngai Tahu killed all the leading Ngati Toa chiefs except Te Rauparaha. Te Rauparaha returned to his Kapiti Island stronghold. In November 1830 Te Rauparaha persuaded Captain John Stewart of the brig Elizabeth to carry him and his warriors in secret to Akaroa, where by subterfuge they captured the leading Ngai Tahu chief, Te Maiharanui, and his wife and daughter. After destroying Te Maiharanui's village they took their captives to Kapiti and killed them. John Stewart, though arrested and sent to trial in Sydney as an accomplice to murder, nevertheless escaped conviction.
In the summer of 1831-1832 Te Rauparaha attacked the Kaiapoi pa (fortified village). After a three-month siege, a fire in the pa allowed Ngati Toa to overcome it. They then attacked Ngai Tahu on Banks Peninsula and took the pa at Onawe. In 1832-33 Ngai Tahu retaliated under the leadership of Tuhawaiki and others, attacking Ngati Toa at Lake Grassmere. Ngai Tahu prevailed, and killed many Ngati Toa, although Te Rauparaha again escaped. Fighting continued for a year or so, with Ngai Tahu maintaining the upper hand. Ngati Toa never again made a major incursion into Ngai Tahu territory.
By 1839 Ngai Tahu and Ngati Toa established peace and Te Rauparaha released the Ngai Tahu captives he held. Formal marriages between the leading families in the two tribes sealed the peace.
Dialect
Ngai Tahu speak or spoke a distinct dialect of Maori (sometimes referred to as Southern Maori). Harlow argues that this dialect has become extinct.
The dialect displayed sufficient differences that an early missionary, Rev. James Watkin, based at Karitane, found materials prepared by North Island missions unusable in Otago.
Southern Maori contains almost all the same phonemes as other Maori dialects (namely: /a, e, i, o, u, f, h, k, m, n, p, r, t, w/), along with the same diphthongs. But it lacks /?/ ("ng") — this sound merged with /k/ in prehistoric times:
for example: Ngai Tahu as opposed to Kai Tahu). This change did not occur in the northern part of the Ngai Tahu area. Debate continues about the possible presence of additional phonemes /b, p, l, r/.
Some have interpreted the presence of non-standard consonants in the spellings of South Island place-names, such as g (as distinct from k, e.g., Katigi, Otago), v (e.g., Mavora), l instead of r (e.g., Little Akaloa, Kilmog, Waihola, Rakiula), and w or u instead of wh as reflecting dialect difference.
Until the or so, authorities discouraged Southern Maori in favour of standard Maori, but it has gained acceptance in recent years, leading to changes in the official names and translations of several southern places and institutions.
Papatipu runaka
Papatipu runanga/runaka, as constituent areas of Kai Tahu, each have an elected board which then elect a representative to Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu. Unusually, Kai Tahu has a very corporate structure, in part due to the death of the last Upoko Ariki (paramount chief), Te Maiharanui, at around the time of the arrival of Europeans in New Zealand. Geographical descriptions below come from the , with some English-language equivalents of place-names included in brackets.
Canterbury runanga
Te Runanga o Kaikoura : The takiwa of Te Runanga o Kaikoura centres on Takahanga and extends from Te Parinui o Whiti to the Hurunui River and inland to the Main Divide.
Te Ngai Tuahuriri : The takiwa of Te Ngai Tuahuriri Runanga centres on Runanga Tuahiwi and extends from the Hurunui to Hakatere (Ashburton, New Zealand), sharing an interest with Arowhenua Runanga northwards to Rakaia, and thence inland to the Main Divide.
Rapaki Runanga : The takiwa of Rapaki Runanga centres on Rapaki (near Lyttelton) and includes the catchment of Whakaraupo and Te Kaituna.
Te Runanga o Koukourarata : The takiwa of Te Runanga o Koukourarata centres on Koukourarata (Port Levy) and extends from Pohatu Pa to the shores of Te Waihora, including Te Kaituna.
Wairewa Runanga : The takiwa of Wairewa Runanga centres on Wairewa (on Banks Peninsula) and the catchment of lake Te Wairewa and the hills and coast to the adjoining takiwa of Koukourarata, Onuku Runanga, and Taumutu Runanga.
Te Runanga o Onuku : The takiwa of Te Runanga o Onuku centres on Onuku and the hills and coasts of Akaroa to the adjoining takiwa of Te Runanga o Koukourarata and Wairewa Runanga.
Taumutu Runanga : The takiwa of Taumutu Runanga centres on Taumutu and the waters of Te Waihora and adjoining lands and shares a common interest with Te Ngai Tuahuriri Runanga and Te Runanga o Arowhenua in the area south to Hakatere (Ashburton).
Te Runanga o Arowhenua : The takiwa of Te Runanga o Arowhenua centres on Arowhenua (Temuka and extends from Rakaia to Waitaki, sharing interests with Ngai Tuahuriri ki Kaiapoi between Hakatere and Rakaia, and thence inland to Aoraki and the Main Divide.
Te Runanga o Waihao : The takiwa of Te Runanga o Waihao centres on Wainono, sharing interests with Te Runanga o Arowhenua to Waitaki, and extends inland to Omarama and the Main Divide.
Otago runanga
Te Runanga o Moeraki : The takiwa of Te Runanga o Moeraki centres on Moeraki and extends from Waitaki to Waihemo and inland to the Main Divide.
Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki : The takiwa of Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki centres on Karitane and extends from Waihemo to Purehurehu and includes an interest in Otepoti (Dunedin) and the greater harbour of Otakou. The takiwa extends inland to the Main Divide, sharing an interest in the lakes and mountains to Whakatipu-Waitai with Runanga to the south.
Te Runanga o Otakou : The takiwa of Te Runanga o Otakou centres on Otakou and extends from Purehurehu to Te Matau and inland, sharing an interest in the lakes and mountains to the western coast with Runanga to the north and to the south (includes the city of Dunedin).
Southland runanga
Waihopai Runaka : The takiwa of Waihopai Runaka centres on Waihopai (Invercargill) and extends northwards to Te Matau sharing an interest in the lakes and mountains to the western coast with other Murihiku (Southland) Runanga and those located from Waihemo (Dunback) southwards.
Te Runanga o Awarua : The takiwa of Te Runanga o Awarua centres on Awarua and extends to the coasts and estuaries adjoining Waihopai sharing an interest in the lakes and mountains between Whakatipu-Waitai and Tawhititarere with other Murihiku (Southland) Runanga and those located from Waihemo southwards.
Te Runanga o Oraka Aparima : The takiwa of Te Runanga o Oraka Aparima centres on Oraka (Colac Bay) and extends from Waimatuku to Tawhititarere sharing an interest in the lakes and mountains from Whakatipu-Waitai to Tawhititarere with other Murihiku Runanga and those located from Waihemo southwards.
Hokonui Runaka : The takiwa of Hokonui Runaka centres on the Hokonui region and includes a shared interest in the lakes and mountains between Whakatipu-Waitai and Tawhitarere with other Murihiku Runanga and those located from Waihemo southwards.
West Coast runanga
Te Runanga o Makaawhio : The takiwa of Te Runanga o Makaawhio centres on Mahitahi (Bruce Bay) and extends from the south bank of the Pouerua River to Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) and inland to the Main Divide, together with a shared interest with Te Runaka o Kati Waewae in the area situated between the north bank of the Pouerua River and the south bank of the Hokitika River. The runanga's marae, Te Tauraka Waka a Maui, at Mahitahi, officially opened on 23 January 2005. Southern Westland, only thinly settled by Maori, had — uniquely in the iwi's region — lacked a marae for 140 years.
Te Runanga o Ngati Waewae : The takiwa of Te Runanga o Ngati Waewae centres on Arahura and Hokitika and extends from the north bank of the Hokitika River to Kahuraki and inland to the Main Divide, together with a shared interest with Te Runanga o Makaawhio in the area situated between the north bank of the Pouerua River and the south bank of the Hokitika River. Ned Tauwhare is chair of the Runanga.
Trading enterprise
Ngai Tahu actively owns or invests in many businesses throughout the country. In the 2008 financial year, Ngai Tahu Holdings had a net surplus of $80.4 million, of which $11.5 million was distributed to members of the iwi via runanga and whanau. During 2008 Ngaitahu made the following investments.
Investments
New investments made in 2009 included:
- Wigram Air Base in Christchurch.
New investments made in 2008 included:
- Christchurch Civic Building, purchase of the post office building in joint venture with Christchurch City Council
- Mahaanui Office development for the Department of Conservation
- Armstrong Prestige Showrooms developed for Armstong Prestige
- Building 4, restoration of old court house at Queenstown and conversion to restaurant/bars facility
- Hot Pools, construction started on Franz Josef Glacier Hot Pools
- Lincoln Dairy Farm purchase for 600-700 residences subdivision in 50-50 partnership with Lincoln University
- Ryman Health Care, increasing shareholding to 40 million shares
- Christchurch, Governor's Bay and Akaroa, purchase land for residential, townhouse developments
Tourism
Seafood
Property and other investments
Ngai Tahu Property currently has assets with a market value in excess of $550 million. Ngai Tahu has an investment portfolio of prime properties including :
- Christchurch Police Station
- Christchurch Courts Complex
- Armstrong Prestige Moorhouse Ave, Christchurch
- National Trade Academy Wigram, Christchurch
- Turners Car Auctions - Addington, Christchurch
- Tower Junction Village Whiteleigh Ave Addington Christchurch
- Tower Junction Megacentre Bulk Retail Centre Christchurc
- St Omer Wharf, Lake Esplanade - Queenstown
- O'Regans Wharf, Lake Esplanade - Queenstown
- Dunedin Police Station - Great King Street Dunedin
- Queenstown Courts Building - Stanley Street Queenstown
- Police Station - Camp Street Queenstown
- Pig and Whistle - Queenstown
- Forestry, investments in 31 forests throughout New Zealand, totalling more than 100,000 hectares
- Ryman Healthcare
- Iveagh Bay Terraces
- Tumara Park
- Wigram Village
- Sockburn Business Park 559 Blenheim Road
Famous Ngai Tahu
External links
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