Te Aitanga a Mahaki Trust To Advance and Promote Te Aitanga a Mahaki Iwi |
Welcome to the website of Te Aitanga a Mahaki
Welcome to the website of Te Aitanga a Mahaki
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Te Aitanga a Mahaki trace their beginnings from the
waiata "Haramai a Paoa". The maunga in shape the haumi, and the land where Paoa
found the totara to repair Horouta. The quotation is immortalised in the land,
"Te manga i tu ai te rakau a Paoa", Mangatu.
Our traditional history begins with the arrival of the Horouta waka at Ohiwa in the Bay or Plenty. In an attempt to cross a sandbar named Tukerae o Kanawa, the haumi of the Horouta snapped in half. To make repairs to the waka, Paoa took a party of warriors inland to search for a suitable tree. On a large mountain they found what they sought, and named the mountain Maungahaumi, where Paoa needed to relieve himself forming Te Mimi a Paoa, (the Waipaoa River), flowing south, and the Motu River, flowing north of the mountain. The repaired waka headed east, rounding the East Cape following the coastline south, greeting the descendants of Toi, replenishing water and food as they went. Some of the Horouta descendants remained and settled with the Toi descendants on the way, whilst the rest continued south until they reached a large bay where Kiwa set up a rahui tuahu claiming the area in the names of the remaining crew of Horouta. The landing place was named Turanganui A Kiwa. To celebrate their discovery, Hineakua the daughter of Paoa, was given in marriage to Kahutuanui, the son of Kiwa, producing the future descendants of Turanganui A Kiwa. The marriage of Rakaikoko, a descendant of Hine Hakirirangi, sister of Paoa, into the Kiwa - Paoa family, was an important alliance. Hine Hakirirangi was the ancestor who, it is said,to have nurtured and brought the kumara from Hawaikii in her sacred kete, and planted the vines at Manawaru and Araiteuru, as sustenance for the tribe. Other important alliances with the descendants of both
Hounuku and Hine Tuahoanga are recalled in the following waiata – the classic
Po! Po
Ngata AT. 'Nga Moteatea', Part II,p.152. An audio file of Po Po can be downloaded here (1.3 Mb).
When Kahukuranui reached manhood he decided to come to Turanganui a Kiwa to visit his older brother, Ruaroa, and after a time married Ruatapuwahine, daughter of Ruapani (chart II). From this union was born Rakaihikuroa, who married two sisters, Hineteraraku and Te Orapa, grandchildren of Ruaroa. Rakaihikuroa established his marae at Pukepoto on the Repongaere Block where he lived with his sons.
The battle between Rakaihikuroa and Kahutapere was asaid to be the first battle to establish the iwi called Te Aitanga a Mahaki. Before the separation, this area was known as Ngati Ruapani or Ngati Kahungunu. The return of Kahukuranui was followed by his nephews,
Tawhiwhi and Mahaki. After a period of time other whanau groups were
established; Kahutapere at Korowhiorau, Tutekohi at Whenuanui, Taururangi at
Kauaenui and Mahaki and his whanau were established at Pawerawera.
Rakaihikuroa, because of his rangatira line to Ruapani felt that his son, Tupurupuru, should be the rangatira of Turanganui a Kiwa. "kia kotahi ra te whetu ki te rangi, ko Tupurupuru." Meanwhile, the people were paying tribute to the twins of Kahutapere, Tarakiuta and Tarakitai, creating a problem for Rakaihikuroa, who took the direct approach of killing the twins. When Kahutapere discovered that Rakaihikuroa was too strong for him, he called on Mahaki, his whanau and his neighbours, Taururangi and Kahutauranga. Whakarau, who was away hunting at the time, later joined the battle at Pukepoto where he faced and killed Tupurupuru. While Tupurupuru lay wounded his brothers wanted to finish him off. Whakarau said, "kia watea, kia watea, waiho i kona te ika o te aho a te potiki a Hinetapuarau kia kahakihaki." From this incident is the name Ngapotiki, one of the main hapu groups of Te Aitanga a Mahaki, who claim Whakarau as their tipuna. When Rakaihikuroa realised the fate of his son, he arranged that Mahaki should have his greenstone adze to cook the body of Tupurupuru. The names of the adze are: Te Whatupura, Te Whatumoana, Te Whatu o Ngahua, Te Whatu o Poutini, Te Whatutangiura. Because of this gift it is believed that Tupurupuru was cooked and eaten, however, elders of Te Aitanga a Mahaki have taught us that the body of Tupurupuru was taken and hidden on the Tangihanga Block where it remains to this day, This battle resulted in the departure from Turanga of Rakaihikuroa, his sons, Taraia, Tamanuhiri, Tuwhakawhiurangi and a section of the whanau of Ruapani, of his second wife, Uenukukoihu. This battle is said to be the first battle in the establishment of Te Aitanga a Mahaki. Rakaihikuroa moved to Te Wairarapa, married into tangata whenua and became Ngati Kahungunu ki te Wairarapa. Rangitawhio moved inland to his mothers people, settled at Rangatira and became known as Ngati Rangitawhio. Rakaipaaka moved to Mahia and Nuhaka and became known as Ngati Rakaipaaka. Hinemanuhiri married Te Pukaru, son of Ruapani and became known as Ngatihine of Ngati Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa. Kahutapere moved to Hangaroa and finally settled in Whakatane.
Chart IV shows the development of the hapu
groups of Te Aitanga a Mahaki. |
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Ko Maungahaumi te Maunga, Ko Waipaoa te Awa, Ko Te Aitanga a Mahaki te Iwi.Send mail to ianruru@mahaki.com
with questions or comments about this web site.
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