Story: Māori feasts and ceremonial eating – hākari

Kapumanawawhiti meeting house

Kapumanawawhiti meeting house

Kapumanawawhiti meeting house in Ōtaki belongs to Ngāti Kapu, a hapū of Ngāti Raukawa. The eponymous ancestor of Ngāti Kapu is the famous chief Kapu, who tricked the important Rotorua chief Tūhourangi into agreeing with him that water was the best food. His stealthy method of tricking Tūhourangi led to the phrase 'Ngā uri o Kapu manawa whiti' – the descendants of Kapu whose intentions are not well known.

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Courtesy of Tainui Marae

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How to cite this page:

Basil Keane, 'Māori feasts and ceremonial eating – hākari - Food in Māori tradition', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/40546/kapumanawawhiti-meeting-house (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Basil Keane, published 5 Sep 2013