Story: Genealogy and family history

Maniapoto's whakapapa (genealogy) recited (1st of 2)

In Māori society family trees or whakapapa, traditionally transmitted orally, are central to the understanding of people's place in the world. They often include natural features, plants and animals. Here Tom Roa of Ngāti Matakore recites the whakapapa of his ancestor Maniapoto.

Tom Roa says: Mō tōku tupuna mō Maniapoto. Ko Tūrongo i wawaea ki Te Tai Rāwhiti. Ko Māhinaarangi tēnā, ā, ko Raukawa. Ka moe i a Raukawa ko Tūrongoihi, ka puta ki waho ko Rereahu. Te moenga tuatahi o Rereahu ko Te Ihingarangi, ko ngā tuākana ērā o roto i a Ngāti Raukawa, i a Ngāti Hauā. Heoi anō mōku ake, mō Maniapoto. Te moenga o Rereahu i tana wahine tuarua, ko Hineaupounamu, ā, ko au ko Maniapoto, tēnā koutou katoa.

A translation is:
With reference to my ancestor Maniapoto: Tūrongo journeyed to the East Coast to Māhinaarangi and from their union was born Raukawa. Raukawa married Tūrongoihi and begat Rereahu. Te Ihingārangi is the offspring of Rereahu’s first marriage, from whom descend those of our senior relatives within Ngāti Raukawa and Ngati Hauā. However as for me, my association lies with Maniapoto. Rereahu’s second wife was Hineaupounamu and they begat me, Maniapoto. Greetings to you all.

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How to cite this page:

David Swain, 'Genealogy and family history - What is genealogy?', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/27056/maniapotos-whakapapa-genealogy-recited (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by David Swain, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 4 Apr 2018