NgÃÂi Te Rangi or NgÃÂiterangi is a MÃÂori iwi, based in Tauranga, New Zealand. Its rohe (tribal area) extends to Mayor Island / Tà «hua and Bowentown in the north, to the Kaimai Range in the west, south of Te Puke and to Maketu in the east.
NgÃÂi Te Rangi is part of the Tauranga Moana iwi group, which also includes NgÃÂti Pà «kenga and NgÃÂti Ranginui. The three iwi all consider Mauao (Mount Maunganui) sacred and share many things in common with one another. Collectively, the iwi are seeking compensation from the New Zealand Government for their losses from the New Zealand Wars but are yet to seek a settlement.
The iwi descends from Toroa, captain of the Mataatua canoe, which travelled to Aotearoa from Hawaiki, through his great-grandson Awanuiarangi, the ancestor of Ngati Awa.
In the time of Awanui's son, Rongotangiawa, NgÃÂti Awa was based at Tawhitirahi pànext to the Kukumoa stream, west of Opotiki. Kahukino, one of the inhabitants of the pÃÂ, had a pet tà «Ã«, which could sing and talk on command. A visitor from NgÃÂti Hàasked for this tà «Ã« as a gift, but Kahukino refused, so NgÃÂti Hàattacked and drove NgÃÂti Awa out of the region. This began a long period of migration for the people, known as Te Heke o Te Rangihouhiri.
Rongomainohorangi led the people all the way to the East Cape, where they were given refuge by Te Waho-o-te-rangi of Ngai te Rangihokaia, who settled them on Te Whakaroa mountain on the Waimata River, where they were required to hunt birds and rats for him. Rongomainohorangi told the people moe iho, moe iho ia tatau ano, whakatupu ia a tatau kia tini (Marry into our own tribe and build up our numbers, that we may become numerous). The tribe grew and eventually Rangihouhiri became its leader. The growth of NgÃÂti Awa worried Waho-o-te-rangi and on his deathbed, he instructed his people to go to NgÃÂti Awa, with their weapons hidden, and to carry out a massacre on his signal. However, Rangihouhiri and his compatriot Irawharao had married members of the NgÃÂti Rongowhakaata hapà « of NgÃÂi te Rangihokaia, through whom they learnt about Waho-o-te rangi's plan. They ambushed the attackers and defeated them, but agreed to leave the area.
Rangihouhiri led the people by sea to Te Kaha, where his uncle, Tamahape, murdered one of the local men, so they had to move on quickly. Finally, they settled at Hakuranui at Tà Ârere on the Bay of Plenty (northeast of their original home at Tawhitirahi). Tà Ârere was already inhabited by NgÃÂitai, who became hostile to NgÃÂti Awa, after Tongarewa, son of Awatope of NgÃÂti Awa killed Te Whanaoterangi of NgÃÂitai. Penu of NgÃÂitai led a war party against NgÃÂti Awa and killed a man called Tukoukou, while he was out sowing kà «mara seeds. Two men from the Waitaha iwi of Te Arawa, called Pohu and Matauaua, happened to be travelling through Tà Ârere at the time and they were accused of stealing the Tukoukou's remains from a canoe where they had been being stored. They were forced to flee. Later, another man from Te Arawa, called Te Aoterangi, was shipwrecked in the area, so MaruÃÂhaira's son-in-law, Taiwhakaea killed him in revenge for the theft of Tukoukou's remains. Tamateapaia also led a war party to attack Te Arawa at Pakotore, but was defeated.
The tribe carried on to Whakatane and Te Awa-a-te-Atua (near MatatÃÂ); they were again told to move on.
From here, Rangihouhiri decided to conquer Maketu from Te Arawa. The force set out to attack Maketu, pretending that they were on a fishing trip. As they approached Maketu, they came to a kà «mara farm called Ohineahuru, where they encountered a woman called Punoho, daughter of Tatahau, whom they assaulted and killed. An Arawa war party assassinated the murderer in return.
Rangihouhiri attacked Tatahau's base at Pukemaire and killed him. Then, Rangihouhiri conquered Mokorangi, Mataitangaroa, and Huitaupoki. Tatahau's sons, Manu and Tiritiri, fled along the Whakapoukorero path to Otitoko, then to Waitangi, Muriwharau, Te Kahika, and Te Parapara, each of which Rangihouhiri captured. Finally, Manu and Tiritiri sought refuge in the NgÃÂti Moko fortress at Tauwharekiri. Rangihouhiri besieged this pÃÂ as well, but was unable to take it, so he gave up and turned back and consolidated his position at Maketu.
Manu and Tiritiri travelled to Waikato and convinced the powerful tohunga Kinonui to come to their aid. They also recruited allies from Tapuika and Waitaha. Meanwhile, Rangihouhiri went east to collect his own allies. The allies marched on Maketu and captured Herekaki and Pukemaire. Rangihouhiri's force fled to Owhara. The next day, Rangihouhiri, assisted by NgÃÂti Pukenga fought Tapuika, Waitaha, and Waikato at the Battle of Poporohuamea, on the edge of the Waihi estuary. Rangihouhiri's forces were victorious and his opponents were forced to flee to the west, but Rangihouhiri himself was killed. Nevertheless, Rangihouhiri's people had gained control of Maketu and they assumed the name Ngai te Rangi in his honour.
After this, NgÃÂi Te Rangi led raids into the interior, demanding food from Te Arawa. Kuramaiterangi of NgÃÂi Te Rangi was killed by a lady of Tuhourangi at Pakotore for this, so NgÃÂi Te Rangi sacked Pakotore. Taiwere of Ngati Whakaue led Te Arawa, Tapuika, and Waitaha against NgÃÂi Te Rangi, who defeated and killed him at Kawa Swamp. Taiwere's brother Moekaha led a second army, but NgÃÂi Te Rangi defeated it at Kawa Swamp too and killed him as well. A third brother, Ariariterangi, pulled together an even larger coalition, incorporating Tapuika, NgÃÂti HauÃÂ, and people from Hauraki. This army was totally defeated by NgÃÂi Te Rangi at Te Kakaho ford. Ariariterangi's son, Te Rorooterangi attacked Maketu and initially it seemed that he would be victorious, but a woman of NgÃÂi Te Rangi called Te Kurauuhirangi negotiated a peace, which was solidified through marriage alliances.
Te Runanga o NgÃÂi Te Rangi Iwi Trust is the mandated iwi organisation for NgÃÂi Te Rangi under the MÃÂori Fisheries Act, an iwi aquaculture organisation under the MÃÂori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act, a Tà «hono organisation, and represents NgÃÂi Te Rangi as an iwi authority under the Resource Management Act. It is a charitable trust, governed by one representative of each of the 11 marae. As of 2016, its chairman is Charlie Tawhiao, its chief executive officer is Brian Dickson, and it is based at Mt Maunganui.
NgÃÂi Te Rangi Settlement Trust is a governance entity for NgÃÂi Te Rangi recognised by the New Zealand Government following the iwi's settlement with the Crown on 14 December 2013. It is a common-law trust, governed by one trustee elected from 11 Hapà « Community electorates, but not from NgàPà Âtiki. As of 2016, the trust chairman is Charlie Tawhiao, the trust chief executive is Paora Stanley and the trust is based in Tauranga.
NgàPà Âtiki a Tamapahore Trust is a governance entity for NgàPà Âtiki hapà «, which has also been recognised by the Government since the iwi's settlement with the Crown. It is also a common-law trust and is governed by five trustees elected by registered members of NgàPà Âtiki. As of 2016, its acting chairperson is Victoria Kingi and it is based in Papamoa.
The iwi has interests in the territories of Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Tauranga City Council.
Moana Radio is the radio station of NgÃÂi Te Rangi and the other Tauranga Moana iwi. It is available on and in Tauranga and across the Bay of Plenty. Moana previously operated youth-oriented urban contemporary Tahi FM between 2003 and late 2011.