NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua is a MÃÂori iwi (tribe) of the lower Northland Peninsula of New Zealand's North Island. It comprises a confederation of five hapà « (subtribes) interconnected both by ancestry and by association over time: Te Uri-o-Hau, Te Roroa, Te Taoà «, NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua o Kaipara and NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua-o-à ÂrÃÂkei. The five hapà « can act together or separately as independent tribes.
NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua's territory or rohe is traditionally expressed as, "" and "". The northern boundary is expressed as, "". The southern boundary is expressed as, "". The area runs from TÃÂmaki River in the south to Maunganui Bluff (at the northern end of Aranga Beach on the west coast) in the north, and to WhangÃÂrei Harbour on the east coast. By the time of European settlement in New Zealand, NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua's territory was around the Kaipara Harbour and stretching south to , the site of present-day Auckland.
NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua descends from the ancestor Tuputupuwhenua (also known as Tumutumuwhenua). The iwi traces its arrival in New Zealand to the MÃÂhuhu-ki-te-rangi canoe, which landed north of the Kaipara Harbour. They also descend from ancestors who migrated from Muriwhenua in the Far North and intermarried with the tribes in NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua's territory. By the 16th and 17th century, NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua had become established around the Kaipara Harbour.
Rivalry with NgÃÂpuhi escalated in the early 19th century when NgÃÂpuhi acquired muskets. NgÃÂpuhi attacked NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua in 1807 or 1808 in the battle of Moremonui north of Dargaville â probably the occasion of the first use of firearms in MÃÂori warfare. NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua overcame the NgÃÂpuhi warriors with hand weapons while NgÃÂpuhi were reloading their muskets, winning a decisive victory over the attackers. NgÃÂpuhi, led by Hongi Hika, exacted revenge in 1825 when they defeated NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua in the battle of Te Ika a Ranganui near Kaiwaka.
On 20 March 1840 in the Manukau Harbour area where NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua farmed, paramount chief Apihai Te Kawau signed the MÃÂori translation of the Treaty of Waitangi, te tiriti o waitangi. NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua sought British protection from NgÃÂpuhi as well as a reciprocal relationship with the Crown and the Church. Soon after signing the Treaty, Te Kawau offered land on the WaitematÃÂ Harbour to William Hobson, the new Governor of New Zealand, for his new capital. Hobson took up the offer and moved the capital of New Zealand to , naming the settlement Auckland.
NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua came to national prominence in the 1970s in a dispute over vacant land at Bastion Point, a little way east of the Auckland city centre, adjoining the suburb of à ÂrÃÂkei. The land, which the New Zealand government had acquired cheaply for public works many decades before, largely reverted to the tribe after a long occupation and passive resistance.
Te Rà «nanga o NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua has a mandate, recognised by the New Zealand Government, to negotiate Treaty of Waitangi settlements for NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua. It is also a mandated iwi organisation under the MÃÂori Fisheries Act, and an Iwi Aquaculture Organisation in the MÃÂori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act. It represents NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua as an iwi authority under the Resource Management Act and is a Tà «hono organisation.
The Rà «nanga is a MÃÂori Trust Board governed by 11 trustees from 5 takiwàor districts: 1 trustee from à ÂrÃÂkei, 2 from South Kaipara, 3 from à Âtamatea, 1 from WhangÃÂrei and 4 from Northern Wairoa. As of 2026, the chair of the trust is Tyrone Raumati, the deputy chair is Margie Tukerangi, the Manahautà « is Alan Riwaka, and the trust is based in Whangarei.
The iwi has interest in the territory of Northland Regional Council, Auckland Council, Kaipara District Council and Whangarei District Council.
The Whangarei district has four hapà « (sub-tribes):
Ake 1179 is the official radio station of NgÃÂti WhÃÂtua, but is not officially part of the iwi radio network. It broadcasts on in Auckland, and features a combination of urban contemporary music and traditional storytelling.