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From the far north
The tūpuna of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei came from Wairotī and Wairotā across the ocean. They landed in Muriwhenua and over time travelled south and settled in Tāmaki Makaurau.
The Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei people journeyed south from Muriwhenua (the far north), fighting a number of battles from Maunganui to the base of the Tangihua ranges. From Tangihua, they navigated the Wairoa River and by raupatu (conquest) took possession of the Kaipara Harbour and surrounding lands.
Around 1750, the Te Taoū people of south Kaipara occupied the Tāmaki Isthmus. From that period until now, the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei people – initially led by Tuperiri – have maintained their ahikā and tūrangawaewae. Their whenua rangatira included the Ōkahu Bay village, where the ancestral house Te Puru o Tāmaki stood, and the Takaparawhau ridge, where the marae Ōrākei marae now stands.
Video: Whai Maia Trust 1 Ltd
He pepeha
Pepeha show the origins of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, beyond Nukuroa (Aotearoa) in Wairotī and Wairotā. The waka hourua Māhuhu-ki-te-Rangi, under the primary command of Rongomai, travelled from the islands and made landfall in Aotearoa.
In time, other forms of waka such as waka taua (war canoes) developed. Te Taoū and Ngāti Whātua used waka taua to conquer the Tāmaki isthmus.
Video: Whai Maia Trust 1 Ltd
The footsteps from beyond
Ngā Tapuae o Tua retraces the journey of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei ancestors from Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Reinga) to their eventual settlement at their tūrangawaewae Takaparawhau on the Tāmaki isthmus.
Video: Whai Maia Trust 1 Ltd
The far north
According to Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei ancestor Pāora Tūhaere, Muriwhenua is the original home of Ngāti Whātua, Te Taoū, Te Uri-o-Hau, and others known as Ngā Ririki.
On sighting the land, Pōhurihanga, captain of the Kurahaupō canoe, uttered the word ‘Muriwhenua’ (This is the land of the beyond). It is also the reason he named his daughter Muriwhenua.
Tangaroa is said to have been a captain of the Tākitumu canoe – another account places Tua on board the Tākitumu. The name Ngāti Whātua derives from him, according to this account.
From Maunganui to Tāmaki
This gives a birds-eye view of significant land and sea features relevant to Ngāti Whātua Whānui (wider Ngāti Whātua).
These tohu whenua (landmarks) and tohu moana (seamarks) are genealogical and spiritual connectors for all uri (descendants) of Ngāti Whātua Whānui, from the western landmark of Maunganui to the glistening waters of the Waitematā, Tai Harapaki and Ōkahu – home of the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei people.
Try tapping the tohu whenua and tohu moana to view a video.
Maunganui
Video: Whai Maia Trust 1 Ltd
Maunganui is the northernmost tip of the tribal boundary. The proverb ‘Ka titiro a Maunganui, ka titiro ki Kaipara. Ka titiro a Kaipara, ka titiro ki Maunganui’, says that the people of Maunganui will always assist the people of the Kaipara in times of war or peace and vice versa.
Tāporapora
Video: Whai Maia Trust 1 Ltd
Journey through the Kaihu valley past the citadel of Tokatoka to the entrance to Kaipara Harbour, and connect to the canoe Tākitumu.
Kaipara’s tributaries, the Ōtamatea and Ōruawharo, are the home of the Tāhuhu, Kuramangotini, Mauku and Tahinga peoples. To the west across the channel at Poutō is the pā Tangaroa Whakamanamana and Te Uri o Hau, the descendants of Haumoewhārangi and his son Hakiputatōmuri. East of Poutō at the mouth of the Kaipara Harbour are Manu Kapua and Tāporapora, where Rongomai and his waka hourua Māhuhu-ki-te-Rangi landed.
Moturemu
Video: Whai Maia Trust 1 Ltd
Moturemu is associated with Te Raupatu Tīhore (the stripping conquest), led by Kāwharu, a giant of a man. He took Ngā Iwi pā sites in retaliation for the death of his relation Rangi-te-ipu and her father, Haumoewhārangi.
Further south, the Makarau River was one of the homes to Moerangaranga, the daughter of Rango, the founding father of Ngāti Rango.
Paruroa
Video: Whai Maia Trust 1 Ltd
Ōtakanini was the home of the many descendants of Mārua, Kōieie, and others who arrived on the waka taua (war canoe) Te Pōtae o Wāhieroa.
Up the Awaroa River lies Maunga-a-ngū, Mākiri, and Tauwhare, home of Tumupākihi, rangatira of Te Taoū and captain of the waka taua (war canoe) Te Wharau. Over the Waitākere Ranges, home of Te Kawerau, is Paruroa and the Manukau Harbour, where Kiwi Tāmaki and his Waiohua people fell as one.
Maungakiēkiē
Video: Whai Maia Trust 1 Ltd
Maungakiēkiē, the site of Tuperiri's pā, Hikurangi.
Takaparawhau, Ōrākei
Video: Whai Maia Trust 1 Ltd
Turning towards the obsidian-like waters of the Waitematā and coming to rest at Takaparawhau are the tūrangawaewae of the Te Taoū, Te Uringutu, and Ngā Oho hapū, collectively known now as Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
Video: Whai Maia Trust 1 Ltd
A Tuperiri geneology
Tuperiri was a Te Taoū war chief and the principal ancestor of the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei people. After taking all the pā sites in the Ihumātao district, he took up residence at Hikurangi pā atop Maungakiekie. This pā belonged to the great Waiohua chief Kiwi Tāmaki, who was killed in ritual combat by Te Taoū leader and war chief Wahaakiaki at Paruroa. This event is remembered in the proverbial saying Te Rangi Hingahingatahi (the day where all fell as one).
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei are continuously researching their history. This published narrative is done to the best of their knowledge.
First published in 2021 by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Manatū Taonga.
© Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei 2021.