Story: Hawke’s Bay region

Rongomaiwahine

The descendants of Kahungunu and his fourth wife, Rongomaiwahine, populated Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa, making up the three strands of the iwi. Rongomaiwahine was an illustrious figure in her own right, and the people of Māhia Peninsula identify as Ngāti Rongomaiwahine rather than Ngāti Kahungunu. She is the central figure depicted in the lintel above the entrance to the Kahungunu ki Nūhaka marae.

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How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'Hawke’s Bay region - Māori settlement and occupation', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/interactive/23889/rongomaiwahine (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, updated 1 Jul 2015