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Story: Tribal organisation

The ancestor Awanuiarangi

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The ancestor Awanuiarangi

Many tribes are named after an ancestor. Examples are the tribes Te Āti Awa of Taranaki, Te Āti Awa of Wellington and Ngāti Awa of the Bay of Plenty, who all trace descent from the ancestor Awanuiarangi. This depiction of Awanuiarangi is by Darcy Nicholas.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: F.004876-52

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Rāwiri Taonui, Tribal organisation – How iwi and hapū were named, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/973/the-ancestor-awanuiarangi (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 4 March 2009.