NgÃÂti Apa is a MÃÂori iwi (tribe) in Rangitikei District of New Zealand. Its rohe (traditional tribal lands) extend between the Mangawhero, Whangaehu, Turakina and Rangitëkei rivers. This area is bounded by Whanganui River in the north-west, and Manawatà « River in the south-east. The marae in this district include Tini wai tara, Whangaehu, KauangÃÂroa, and Parewanui.
NgÃÂti Apa take their name from the ancestor Apa-hÃÂpai-taketake, who was the son of Ruatea. Stories of Apa's deeds place the tribe's origins in the Bay of Plenty. To the west of Pà «tauaki mountain is a place known to MÃÂori as Te Takanga-a-Apa (the place where Apa fell), so named because, according to one account, it was where Apa was kicked to the ground by the pet moa of a man called Te Awatope. Because he limped after this incident, he was named Apa-koki (Apa with a limp). One explanation for the place name is that Apa fell to his death there. Another account says he was banished from the district after slaughtering Te Awatope's moa.
NgÃÂti Apa then found themselves living in the Rotoaira lake district. Apa started sending parts of his tribe south to cultivate the land and have settlements ready before the whole party travelled down. However Apa did not leave until after he had eaten one of Te Awatope's favourite dogs. Te Awatope sought to kill Apa as this dog was his favourite. However, when he went to where NgÃÂti Apa had settled he was told by some people that Apa had been warned the previous evening and had already proceeded south during the night. Many generations later, NgÃÂti Apa were not only descended from Apa HÃÂpaitaketake, but also of Turi captain of Aotea Paerangi normally associated to the ÃÂti Hau and NgÃÂti Rangi tribes. Some along the Rangitëkei River (Papawhenua's descendants) were not only of Kurahaupà Â, but also of Matahourua.
Many NgÃÂti Apa deny any connection to the Bay Of Plenty, Pà «tauaki area.
Today NgÃÂti apa have many Hapà «, named here are the ones still active to this day.