NgÃÂi Tahu, or KÃÂi Tahu, is the principal MÃÂori (tribe) of the South Island. Its (tribal area) is the largest in New Zealand, and extends from the White Bluffs / Te Parinui o Whiti (southeast of Blenheim), Mount MÃÂhanga and Kahurangi Point in the north to Stewart Island / Rakiura in the south. The comprises 18 (governance areas) corresponding to traditional settlements. According to the 2023 census an estimated 84,000 people affiliated with the KÃÂi Tahu iwi.
NgÃÂi Tahu originated in the Gisborne District of the North Island, along with NgÃÂti Porou and NgÃÂti Kahungunu, who all intermarried amongst the local NgÃÂti Ira. Over time, all but NgÃÂti Porou would migrate away from the district. Several were already occupying the South Island prior to NgÃÂi Tahu's arrival, with KÃÂti MÃÂmoe only having arrived about a century earlier from the Hastings District, and already having conquered Waitaha, who themselves were a collection of ancient groups. Other that NgÃÂi Tahu encountered while migrating through the South Island were NgÃÂi Tara, RangitÃÂne, NgÃÂti Tà «matakà Âkiri, and NgÃÂti Wairangi â all of which also migrated from the North Island at varying times. During the 19th century, hundreds of thousands of Europeans â mostly British â migrated to New Zealand. After European arrival, NgÃÂti Toa (allied with NgÃÂti Tama) and NgÃÂti RÃÂrua invaded NgÃÂi Tahu's territory with muskets. Some European settlers intermingled with native populations, and today, most families who descend from NgÃÂi Tahu also have NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe and British ancestry.
translates as "People of Tahu", referencing the name of the ancestor Tahupà Âtiki. Alongside the other that NgÃÂi Tahu absorbed, there are five primary (sub-tribes) of NgÃÂi Tahu, which are: NgÃÂti Kurë, NgÃÂti Irakehu, KÃÂti Huirapa, NgÃÂi Tà «ÃÂhuriri, and NgÃÂi Te Ruahikihiki. A branch of NgÃÂi Tà «ÃÂhuriri and NgÃÂti Kurë, KÃÂi Te RakiÃÂmoa, was one of the latest which the leading chiefs descended from.
NgÃÂi Tahu trace their traditional descent from Tahupà Âtiki (also Te Tuhi-mÃÂreikura-o-Oho-a-tama-wahine), and Tahumatua), the younger brother of Porourangi. The brothers are said to be descended from Paikea as grandsons, great-grandsons, or great-great-grandsons. Either way, Paikea himself is always Chief Uenuku's son. Some groups may even trace the brothers as great-grandsons of Uenuku's other son Ruatapu as well as with Paikea.
Whatever the case, Tahupà Âtiki was born in WhÃÂngÃÂrà(a place associated with Paikea), around 1450CE. He was given command of the (canoe), and took it down to the South Island where he landed at the Arahura River on the West Coast â or at the Waiau River near Manapà Âuri. He stayed there for a time before travelling back to WhÃÂngÃÂràin a new canoe upon learning of the death of his brother. As according to ancient protocol, he took Porourangi's grieving wife Hamo-te-rangi as his own, by whom he had at least four sons: Ira-a-Tahu, Ira-(apa)-roa, Tahumuri-hape, and Karimoe. Some say his other sons were Ira-manawa-piko, Rakaroa, Rakahurumanu, Tà «roto, Tahutëoro, and Ruanuku.
Tahupà Âtiki, Ira-a-Tahu, Iraroa, and Tahumuri-hape moved south towards Tà «ranga, then settled at Maraetaha at the northern end of the WharerÃÂtàRange. Karimoe instead moved northwards and settled at the banks of the Mangaheia stream, inwards of à ªawanui-a-Ruamatua. The family later moved to Iwitea, where Tahupà Âtiki built the Taumatahënaki . The ancestor Te Matuahanga (descendant of Tà «roto and Rakaroa) is still known in the area around there. More were established further inland along the Tukemà Âkihi block.
Owing to growing tensions between the various inhabiting the surrounding area, many groups began their migration away from Waerenga-a-Hika in the Gisborne District. One of the earliest notable instances of tension was where RÃÂkaihikuroa, grandson of Kahungunu, killed his own twin brothers out of jealousy, and was banished after his own son Tupurupuru was killed in revenge.
Perhaps a more notable instance, is when RÃÂkaihikuroa's other son RÃÂkaipaaka was insulted by local Chief Tà «tekohi who had invited him to his and then fed the prepared feast to his (dog) Kauerehuanui. The visitors showed no reaction at the time, but after leaving, Whaitiripoto instructed Whakaruru-a-Nuku to go back and eat the dog in revenge. This action resulted in war against the Takutaioterangi and their allies.
A similar engagement occurred with NgÃÂi Tahu, involving Chief Rakawahakura (great-grandson of Ira-a-Tahu), Whaitiripoto, and Whakaruru-a-Nuku. The fish and birds for this feast were actually cleverly carved chunks of wood, designed to give the impression of those foods being prepared in the storehouse. The later battle came to be known as because of this. The children began playing games, enticing the adults to join in as a distraction while the hosts began to form their attack, even killing the visitors' dogs. Tà «tekohi ultimately won, and so NgÃÂi Tahu was forced to move further down the North Island. Rakawahakura was later killed near Waikato.
From Gisborne the had moved down the coast to the Heretaunga. The ancestress Tà «haitara, senior granddaughter of Rakawahakura, insulting her husband Chief Marukore of NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe, or Te KÃÂhea, and his ancestry, as well as various other exchanges are the reason for war between their two . Tà «haitara herself had some NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe heritage, but he was a local viewed as below her status. The pair had 11 children in total, including Tamaraeroa, Huirapa, TahumatÃÂ, Pahirua and Hinehou. Huirapa is the son who KÃÂti Huirapa descends from.
Tà «haitara's cousin through Rakawahakura, Kurë, also lived around this time. Just as Tà «haitara was the senior ancestress of NgÃÂi Tahu with her own named after her, NgÃÂi Tà «haitara, Kurë is also the ancestor of the prominent KÃÂti Kurë .
Tà «haitara instructed Tamaraeroa and Huirapa to kill Marukore at a place called . However, Marukore knew of their plan and defeated them in the Battle of Hà «kete after which their sister Hinehou laid them on the floor of her for her grandchildren to see, and left her belongings with them before burning down the building in an incident now known as ("The Laying Down of Fighting Chiefs"). Alternatively, Marukore himself burned their bodies on a funeral pyre. Tamaraeroa's wife was killed as well, but they left a son named Te Aohuraki. Huirapa's son Marainaka also survived the fighting.
Next the brothers Pahirua and TahumatÃÂ sought out to defeat Marukore. As they were about to take advice from a local chief named RÃÂkaimoari, his daughter Hinewai-a-tapu made a remark about TahumatÃÂ which sparked the Battle of Te Pakiaka ("The Roots") that lasted for some days. It was named so because TahumatÃÂ caught Hinewai-a-tapu hiding under some tree roots, and made her his wife.
Eventually the NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe chief Hikaororoa managed to trap Marukore's party in a . Hikaororoa asked for the 'chief of the long plume' to come to the door to be cannibalised. Marukore's younger cousin Rokopaekawa took Marukore's headdress (his sign of status) and was sacrificed instead. However he did not cook properly, and the headdress's plume was still visible in the dirt. This was considered a bad omen and so the body was discarded with the incident being called ("The Long Standing Feather Plumes").
Marukore and Tà «haitara would both die in the Battle of Tapapanui, at the hands of their son Pahirua who was very angry about the whole situation. In one telling of the series of battles, Hinehou and Pahirua built together, and burnt the bodies of all the slain there. The remaining children of the warring parents would move down to a place called in Wairarapa where Hinehou was already living, and southward to Te Whanganui-a-Tara within a few generations.
In Wellington Te Aohikuraki, the senior chief, slept with RÃÂkaitekura (a high ranking NgÃÂi Tahu woman) while her husband Tà «maro was away visiting his family. Of this Te Hikutawatawa (later named ), the ancestor of NgÃÂi Tà «ÃÂhuriri, was born illegitimate. Owing to RÃÂkaitekura's high rank, Tà «maro was unable to kill her, so instead had her prepare herself for marriage with Te Aohikuraki. The stream where she did up her hair was called . Tà «maro gathered his family and departed for Waimea, near Nelson across the Cook Strait, leaving RÃÂkaitekura and Te Hikutawatawa behind.
Curiosity burning in him since childhood, when the other children would pick fun on him for being illegitimate, Te Hikutawatawa left Kaiwhakawaru seeking out his step-father. Upon his arrival to Waimea, Tà «maro's father Kahukura-te-paku, not knowing who he was, had intended to cannibalise him, but later put a stop to the meal preparations when local children heard Te Hikutawatawa muttering of his origins. Kahukura-te-paku then asked Te Hikutawatawa to climb through a window to remove the breach on , where he and Tà «maro greeted him with open arms. Te Hikutawatawa was still outraged at his being defiled by Kahukura-te-paku, so he returned later to destroy the site and kill everyone who lived there. After this he was known as ( meaning "sacred altar", meaning "to be angry").
Late in the 17th century the began migrating to the northern part of the South Island under the leadership of the NgÃÂti Kurë chief Pà «rahonui, with his sons Makà Â-ha-kirikiri and MarukaitÃÂtea, establishing the Kaihinu in the Tory Channel / Kura Te Au. After an incident in which a NgÃÂi Tahu had desecrated the bones of one of NgÃÂi Tara's ancestors, Pà «rahonui was murdered in revenge early one morning when he went to relieve himself. This broke out into a series of battles between the two .
In the North Island, Hikaororoa, a prominent tribal member, attacked Te Mata-ki-kaipoinga after Tà «ÃÂhuriri insulted him. Tà «tekawa (Tà «ÃÂhuriri's brother-in-law of senior NgÃÂti Kahungunu, NgÃÂti Porou, and NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe connections) withdrew his men to attack at another angle after his younger relative recognised an insult from Hikaororoa. He sent the same relative to warn Tà «ÃÂhuriri to escape, which he did into a nearby bush. For unknown reasons, when Tà «tekawa entered the , he slew Tà «ÃÂhuriri's wives Hinekaitaki and TuarÃÂwhati (WhÃÂkuku's sisters). After the battle, Tà «tekawa fled down to WaikÃÂkahi on the shores of Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora where he lived amongst his fellow NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe. Tà «tekawa's own wife Tà «kà Ârero was a sister to Tà «ÃÂhuriri's other wife Hinetewai (mother of HÃÂmua, Tà «rakautahi, and Moki). He was also a first cousin to both the NgÃÂti Kurë chief Te Rakiwhakaputa, and to the NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe leader Tukiauau.
On one occasion when NgÃÂti Kurë fought with RangitÃÂne, Chief Tà «teurutira had mistaken one of his captives, Hinerongo, as one of the enemy's women. She was in fact a member of NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe who had already been taken captive by RangitÃÂne, and so he returned her to the Matariki near Waiau Toa. This struck a new alliance between their , after which they successfully attacked RangitÃÂne in the Wairau Valley. For this NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe then ceded the east coast regions north of Waiau Toa to NgÃÂi Tahu, and Tà «teurutira and Hinerongo married and settled at the .
In the Battle of à Âpokihi against NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe, MarukaitÃÂtea was rescued by his brothers Makà Â-ha-kirikiri and Kahupupuni. At the Pariwhakatau near the Conway area, Makà Â-ha-kirikiri was with his sisters Te Apai and Tokerau, Manawa-i-waho's wives, when Tukiauau sneaked in and killed Manawa. The former three were spared by the protection of the guardian, Te Hineumutahi. However, they were forced to leave the through her legs (she would have been a wooden figure or carving suspended in the air).
By the 1690s NgÃÂi Tahu had settled in Canterbury, including NgÃÂti Kurë conquering the east coast down to Kaikà Âura, and NgÃÂti Irakehu peaceably settling among Banks Peninsula's NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe. The last battle that was fought between the two up to that point was the Battle of Waipapa, before NgÃÂti Kurë took the Takahanga . MarukaitÃÂtea chose to stay here, while other chiefs continued to push south. Around this time, the ariki Tà «teÃÂhuka was moving the last of the tribe's members to the South Island through the Cook Strait. As a consequence for ignoring Chief Te Aweawe's advice to strap two canoes together for a safer passage, Tà «ÃÂhuriri is said to have been left to drown along with Tà «maro while trying to leave Wellington. It is very likely that Tà «ÃÂhuriri's eldest son HÃÂmua also drowned, otherwise he might have died in Kaikà Âura at a young age.
After establishing dominance down to Kaikà Âura, many of NgÃÂi Tahu's leading chiefs were ready to expand further south into the island. One, Moki, another son of Tà «ÃÂhuriri, had received reports from Kaiapu and Tamakino (brothers of MÃÂrewa, Moki's wife) that his father's wife's killer, Tà «tekawa, was living just further south at Te Waihora. He set off in his canoe, , and attacked various small villages including the ParakÃÂkÃÂriki at à Âtanerito. Tà «tekawa was ultimately killed by WhÃÂkuku instead of Moki, avenging the deaths of his sisters. Tà «tekawa's son Te RakitÃÂmau returned to the home, where he found his wife Punahikoia and children unharmed, and the attackers sleeping near the fire. Te RakitÃÂmau did not avenge Tà «tekawa, but instead left a sign that he spared the attackers' lives, and peace was eventually restored between their descendants.
Chief Te Rakiwhakaputa claimed the area of Whakaraupà Â, naming the beach . He destroyed NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe's at MÃÂnuka, across the hills at Tai Tapu, and prior to that also lived at Te PÃÂ-o-Te Rakiwhakaputa on the Cam River / Ruataniwha for a time. His son Manuhiri drove NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe out of à Âhinetahi and set up his base there, and his other son Te Wheke set up his own base on Avon River / à ÂtÃÂkaro's estuary. Makà Â-ha-kirikiri was given Little River and Wairewa, and Te Ruahikihiki of KÃÂti Kurë, ancestor of NgÃÂi Te Ruakihikihi, son of Manawaiwaho and Te Apai, was given Kaità Ârete and Te Waihora. Chief Huikai also established himself at Koukourarata (named after the stream in Wellington where RÃÂkaitekura prepared her hair), and his son Tautahi took à Âtautahi (the site of present-day Christchurch). Tà «ÃÂhuriri's second eldest son Tà «rakautahi, the famous chief of NgÃÂi Tà «haitara born with a club foot, established Te Kà Âhaka-a-kaikai-a-waro (now the Kaiapoi ) at the Taerutu Lagoon near Woodend, and claimed the area around Banks Peninsula.
With the discovery of Nà Âti Raureka (Browning Pass) by its namesake Raureka, of the West Coast NgÃÂti Wairangi, NgÃÂi Tà «haitara quickly developed an interest in Te Tai Poutini for the pounamu that can be found there. It is said to have been Tà «rakautahi's decision to learn the genealogies and traditions of NgÃÂti Wairangi and NgÃÂti Tà «matakà Âkiri, the former of which already shared a common ancestry with NgÃÂi Tahu through the ancestors Tura and Paikea, and the latter being of the like NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe, NgÃÂi Tara, and RangitÃÂne. A similar approach was also taken to learn Waitaha's genealogies and stories. Myths that NgÃÂi Tahu brought to the South Island themselves include those of the Takitimu Mountains (being the ) and the .
Tà «rakautahi and one Te-ake narrowly escaped slaughter in NgÃÂti Wairangi territory after others had been slain for breaking sacred customs. Tà «rakautahi's brother TÃÂnetiki, and two relatives Tà «taemaro and Tà «tepiriraki, had not been so fortunate however. The brothers' uncle Hikatà «tae chopped off their heads and returned to the rest of the family at Kaikà Âura. Makà Â-ha-kirikiri of Wairewa and Moki both avenged the deaths near where the bodies were found in the water, on the shores of Lake Mahinapua in the battle called . Moki was later cursed by two tohunga, Iriraki and Tautini, for insulting two women. He is said to be buried at Kaitukutuku, near the Waikà «kà « flaxmill. After the battle, Makà Â-ha-kirikiri established the à Âhiri , at Little River. Tà «rakautahi further enlisted Te RakitÃÂmau's aid in overcoming NgÃÂti Wairangi, killing their rangatira Te Uekanuka near Lake Kaniere.
Tà «rakautahi's son Kaweriri with his father-in-law Te Ruahikihiki had settled Taumutu at the southern end of Te Waihora. Kaweriri later travelled with a south to Lowther where he was slain by the KÃÂti MÃÂmoe chief Tutemakohu around the year 1725 during the Battle of Waitaramea. Tà «rakautahi's other son by his wife Te Aowharepapa, RakiÃÂmoa, would continue the main lines of descent of NgÃÂi Tahu. Te Ruahikihiki's own son Taoka, by his wife Te Aotaurewa, would push further south to à ÂtÃÂkou, where he engaged in some of the final battles with NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe.
Over time, marriages were arranged between NgÃÂi Tahu and NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe to cement peace. Notably of Raki-ihia (NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe) and HinehÃÂkiri, the cousin of NgÃÂi Tahu's leading chief Te-hau-tapunui-o-Tà «, and of Honekai, son of Te-hau-tapunui-o-Tà «, with Raki-ihia's daughter Kohuwai. Despite this, occasional skirmishes still continued.
Tà «huru Kokare, a grandson of Tà «rakautahi's son Waewae (thus chief of NgÃÂti Waewae), became an active member in the battles against NgÃÂti Wairangi around the turn of the century. He first defeated them at Lake Brunner, and then began a campaign that moved down from the Karamea district, fighting battles at Whanganui Inlet, Kawatiri, MÃÂwhera, Taramakau, Arahura, Hokitika, à ÂkÃÂrito, and finally at Makawhio, with the final defeat occurring in Te Paparoa ranges. After their victory, Tà «huru's party discussed at Rà «nanga whether they should return home or stay in the area. A decision was not reached, so they discussed the matter again near Kaiata and Omotumotu after crossing MÃÂwheranui, and made the decision to construct a at MÃÂwhera. They became known as the .
The KaihuÃÂnga feud of the 1820s heavily involved the (paramount chief) Tamaiharanui, whose status was so spiritually superior within the that people of lower ranking would avert their gaze and avoid looking at him directly. If his shadow fell upon food, that food became and had to be destroyed. The KaihuÃÂnga feud is an historical instance that highlights the importance of the 's spiritual status, and the importance of . The feud sparked when a woman from the Waikakahi at Wairewa named Murihaka wore a dogskin cloak which belonged to Tamaiharanui, thus causing an insult to him. His followers then killed Rerewaka, a slave of one of Murihaka's relatives. The relatives then responded by killing another chief, Hape.
Hape's wife was a sister to two chiefs from the Taumutu at southern Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora. The people of Taumutu responded to Hape's death by attacking Waikakahi, and killing several people. Tamaiharanui led a against Taumutu, and sacking it. The Taumutu then asked the of Otago for assistance, to which Taiaroa and Te Whakataupuka led a , and along with warriors from Kaiapoi, all attacked Waikakahi. They found the empty however, as Taiaroa had warned their people that the attackers would arrive with muskets. It is thought that this was the first instance of firearms in Canterbury.
Since they had killed nobody at Waikakahi, the Kaiapoi warriors feared ridicule. They happened across the nephew of Chief Taununu, of Rëpapa Island, and killed him. In retaliation Taununu overran the Whakaepa , near Coalgate, killing the inhabitants. The Otago attacked Waikakahi again, and although Taiaroa had again warned them, they were pursued and killed. Two of Tamaiharanui's close kin, his sisters, were slaughtered. The Otago and Taumutu parties destroyed the Rëpapa before returning to Otago. Many settlements and communities along Banks Peninsula were abandoned in the series of retaliatory attacks.
Tamaiharanui then went to Otago and persuaded the Taumutu people to come back home, assuring that the war was over. He however returned first and lay in wait for the Taumutu people with muskets. According to Hakopa Te Ata-o-Tu, a member of Tamaiharanui's party, Tamaiharanui became less enthusiastic about the attack when he realised the refugees had their own muskets. Nonetheless, he was convinced to attack, and the refugees were killed. The final act of the feud was the killing of Taununu, who was tomahawked to death along with his companion, near à Âtokitoki.
In 1827âÂÂ1828 NgÃÂti Toa, under the leadership of Te Rauparaha and armed with muskets, successfully attacked KÃÂti Kurë at Kaikà Âura, who were already expecting the Tà «-te-pÃÂkihi-rangi of NgÃÂti Kahungunu as friendly visitors. He named the battle ("Shark's Tooth") after a threat from Rerewaka, a local chief. NgÃÂti Toa then visited Kaiapoi, ostensibly to trade. When NgÃÂti Toa attacked their hosts, the well-prepared NgÃÂi Tahu killed all the leading NgÃÂti Toa chiefs except Te Rauparaha who subsequently returned to his stronghold at Kapiti Island. During this time Ngati Tumatakokiri continued attacking the Poutini NgÃÂi Tahu from Kawatiri over land and hunting disputes, with NgÃÂti RÃÂrua also attacking the Poutini NgÃÂi Tahu with muskets, seeking pounamu.
In November 1830 Te Rauparaha persuaded Captain John Stewart of the brig Elizabeth to carry him and his warriors in secret to Takapà «neke near present-day Akaroa, where by subterfuge they captured Tamaiharanui and his wife and daughter. After destroying Takapà «neke they embarked for Kapiti with their captives. Tamaiharanui strangled his daughter and threw her overboard to save her from slavery. NgÃÂti Toa killed the remaining captives. John Stewart, though arrested and sent to trial in Sydney as an accomplice to murder, nevertheless escaped conviction. Another captive, Hà Âne Tëkao (NgÃÂi Te Kahukura, NgÃÂi Tà «ÃÂhuriri) did survive and would later visit France.
In the summer of 1831âÂÂ1832 Te Rauparaha attacked the Kaiapoi . After a three-month siege, a fire in the allowed NgÃÂti Toa to overcome it. NgÃÂti Toa then attacked NgÃÂi Tahu on Banks Peninsula and took the at Onawe. In 1832âÂÂ33 NgÃÂi Tahu retaliated under the leadership of Tà «hawaiki, Taiaroa, Karetai, and Haereroa, attacking NgÃÂti Toa at Lake Grassmere. NgÃÂi Tahu prevailed, and killed many NgÃÂti Toa, although Te Rauparaha again escaped.
In 1834 Chief Iwikau, brother of Te Maiharanui, led a war party into the Marlborough Sounds, though NgÃÂti Toa had hidden from them and could not be found. The campaign was known as or .
Fighting continued for a year or so, with NgÃÂi Tahu maintaining the upper hand. In 1836 Chief Te Pà «oho of NgÃÂti Tama, allied to NgÃÂti Toa, led his from Whanganui Inlet down to the West Coast to the Haast River. From there he crossed the Haast Pass into central Otago and Southland. Tà «hawaiki had by now learned of this oncoming attack, and led his own from Ruapuke Island to Tuturau, where he fought and killed Te Pà «oho.
NgÃÂti Toa never again made a major incursion into NgÃÂi Tahu territory. By 1839 NgÃÂi Tahu and NgÃÂti Toa established peace and Te Rauparaha released the NgÃÂi Tahu captives he held at Kapiti. Formal marriages between the leading families in the two tribes sealed the peace.
In 1840 more than 500 chiefs from all over New Zealand signed the Treaty of Waitangi with representatives of the Crown. Only one sheet was used in the South Island â the Herald (Bunbury) sheet carried with Major Thomas Bunbury aboard which sailed from the Bay of Islands on 28 April. The Cook Strait (Henry Williams) sheet was used at Arapaoa Island and Rangitoto ki te Tonga / D'Urville Island at the northern end of the South Island, but was not signed by NgÃÂi Tahu.
The sheet's first four signatures came from Coromandel Harbour one week later on 4 May, and the next two were signed aboard HMS Herald just off the Mercury Islands on 7 May. These signatures were collectively from the NgÃÂti Whanaunga, NgÃÂti PÃÂoa, and NgÃÂti Maru.
The first NgÃÂi Tahu signatory was Chief Iwikau at Akaroa on 30 May, followed by Hone Tëkao signing as John Love. His nephew was Hone Taare Tikao.
The third NgÃÂi Tahu signatory was Chief Tà «hawaiki signing as John Touwaick aboard HMS Herald at Ruapuke Island on 10 June, who requested Kaikoura (possibly Kaikà Âura Whakatau) to sign on the same day, who was then followed by Taiaroa (or Tararoa; possibly Te Matenga Taiaroa).
The last NgÃÂi Tahu signatures were from Otago Heads on 13 June. The signatories were Hone Karetai (NgÃÂti Ruahikihiki, NgÃÂi Te Kahukura, NgÃÂi Tà «ÃÂhuriri, NgÃÂti Hinekura) signing as John Karitai at à ÂtÃÂkou, and one Korako (NgÃÂi Tà «ÃÂhuriri, NgÃÂti Huirapa) whose identity is not known for certain, but could be either Hà Âne WÃÂtere Kà Ârako, Kà Ârako Karetai, or Hoani Kà Ârako among others.
The last signatures mostly came from members of NgÃÂti Toa at Te Koko-o-Kupe / Cloudy Bay (17 June) and Mana Island (19 June) â including Te Rauparaha who had already signed the Cook Strait (Henry Williams) sheet on 14 May â and from three NgÃÂti Kahungunu members at Hawke's Bay on 24 June, amounting to a total of 27 signatures for the sheet.
At the very end of the 19th century a NgÃÂi Tahu man named William Timaru Joss (1844âÂÂ1895), a Stewart Island whaler and captain of the mailboat Ulva, was a member of the first confirmed landing party of the Antarctic on the continent of Antarctica at Cape Adare, along with Captain Kristensen, Bull, Borchgrevink, and Tunzelmann in January 1895, making Joss the first known MÃÂori to get so close to the continent. Timaru William Joss (1905âÂÂ1955), William Timaru's grandson, joined Admiral Richard E. Byrd's expedition to Antarctica in 1935.
Over 270 individuals of NgÃÂi Tahu connection served during World War I, including some who fought with the New Zealand (MÃÂori) Pioneer Battalion. A handful of notable servicemen included: Turu Rakerawa Hiroti, Hoani Parata, James William Tepene, and John Charles Tamanuiarangi Tikao, all of whom held the rank of captain. One soldier born of chiefly ranking was Private Hohepa Teihoka of Kaiapoi, who was nearly 19 years old when he arrived in Dardanelles in July 1915.
George Henry West (KÃÂi Te RakiÃÂmoa) was the first pilot of MÃÂori-descent to join the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in 1936. During a training flight on the night of 11 May 1939, his student accidentally undershot a landing exercise. West died of his injuries the following day. John Pohe was otherwise the first full-blooded MÃÂori pilot to join the RNZAF in 1941.
Turu Rakerawa Hiroti and John Charles Tamanuiarangi Tikao would go on to serve during World War II. The former serving as a recruitment officer, and the latter serving as a captain with the MÃÂori Battalion. Timaru William Joss also served with the United States Navy, in charge of a barge during the Normandy landings.
The New Zealand Parliament passed the NgÃÂi Tahu Claims Settlement Act in 1998 to record an apology from the Crown and to settle claims made under the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi. One of the Act's provisions covered the use of dual English and MÃÂori names for geographical locations in the NgÃÂi Tahu tribal area. The recognised tribal authority, Te Rà «nanga o NgÃÂi Tahu, is based in Christchurch and in Invercargill.
In 2021, the iwi began legal proceedings against the New Zealand government, claiming "repeated failures over successive governments to protect the country's waterways" and further that "the crown must recognise their rangatiratanga â governing authority and self-determination â over waterways stretching across most of the South Island". Acore contributor to the degradation of water quality has been the growth of intensive dairy farming over three decades which has left many South Island rivers with deficient streamflows and problematic nitratebased eutrophication. Between 1990 and 2020, the number of dairy cattle in the Canterbury region increased from 113,000 to over 1.2 million. Included in that number are NgÃÂi Tahu's own cattle; the business arm of the iwi has a substantial farming investment.
In the 19th century many NgÃÂi Tahu, particularly in the southernmost reaches of the South Island, spoke a distinct dialect of the MÃÂori language, sometimes referred to as Southern MÃÂori, which was so different from the northern version of the language that missionary Rev. James Watkin, based at Karitane found materials prepared by North Island missions could not be used in Otago. However, from the 20th century to the early 21st century, the dialect came close to extinction and was officially discouraged.
Southern MÃÂori contains almost all of the same phonemes as other MÃÂori dialects (), along with the same diphthongs but lacks ("ng"), a sound that merged with in prehistoric times: becomes ). The change did not occur in the northern part of the NgÃÂi Tahu area, and the possible presence of additional phonemes () has been debated. Nonstandard consonants are sometimes identified in the spellings of South Island place names, such as g (as distinct from k, e.g., Katigi, Otago), v (e.g., Mavora), l instead of r (e.g., Little Akaloa, Kilmog, Waihola, Rakiula), and w or u instead of wh as reflecting dialect difference, but similar spellings and pronunciations also occur in the North Island (e.g. Tolaga Bay).
The apocope, the dropping of the final vowel of words, resulting from pronunciations like 'Wacky-white' for "Waikouaiti" has been identified with Southern MÃÂori. However, the devoicing, rather than apocope, of final vowels occurs in the speech of native MÃÂori-speakers throughout New Zealand, and the pronunciation of the names of North Island towns by locals often omits final vowels as well, like in the pronunciation of "Paraparam" or "Waiuk".
Te Rà «nanga o NgÃÂi Tahu (TRoNT) is the governance entity of NgÃÂi Tahu, following the Treaty of Waitangi settlement between the and the New Zealand Government under NgÃÂi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998. It is also a mandated organisation under the MÃÂori Fisheries Act 2004, an aquaculture organisation under the MÃÂori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004, an authority under the Resource Management Act 1991 and a Tà «hono organisation. It also represents NgÃÂi Tahu WhÃÂnui, the collective of including Waitaha, NgÃÂti MÃÂmoe, and NgÃÂi Tahu, including, NgÃÂti Kurë, NgÃÂti Irakehu, NgÃÂti Huirapa, NgÃÂi Tà «ÃÂhuriri, and NgÃÂi Te Ruahikihiki, under Te Rà «nanga o NgÃÂi Tahu Act 1996.
The interests of NgÃÂi Tahu cover a wide range of regions, including the territories of Tasman District Council, Marlborough District Council, West Coast Regional Council, Environment Canterbury, Otago Regional Council and Environment Southland, and the district councils which make up these regional councils.
/, as constituent areas of NgÃÂi Tahu, each have an elected board which then elect a representative to Te Rà «nanga o NgÃÂi Tahu. NgÃÂi Tahu has a very corporate structure, in part due to the death of an important (paramount chief), Te Maiharanui, at the time of the arrival of Europeans in New Zealand. Under the Resource Management Act, both the trust and local should be consulted with about natural resource matters. The 18 representatives of oversee Te Rà «nanga o NgÃÂi Tahu as a charitable trust. The (chairperson) from 2016 was Lisa Tumahai, the chief executive officer is Arihia Bennett, the general counsel is Chris Ford, and the trust is based in Addington, Christchurch. Justin Tipa, a board member, was appointed kaiwhakahaere in 2023. In 2024 Bennett stepped down as chief executive after 12 years in the role.
NgÃÂi Tahu has nine in Canterbury:
NgÃÂi Tahu has three in Otago:
NgÃÂi Tahu has two in Westland:
NgÃÂi Tahu has four in Southland:
NgÃÂi Tahu actively owns or invests in many businesses throughout the country. In the 2008 financial year, NgÃÂi Tahu Holdings had a net surplus of $80.4 million, of which $11.5 million was distributed to members of the via and .
NgÃÂi Tahu Property currently has assets with a market value in excess of $550 million. NgÃÂi Tahu has an investment portfolio of prime properties including:
Tahu FM is the 's official radio station. It began as Christchurch's on 6 February 1991. Between 1996 and 2001, it formed a broadcasting partnership with Mai FM and began playing more urban contemporary music. It changed its name to FM in December 1997, and briefly changed its name to FM in 1999 before reverting to FM. It broadcasts in Christchurch on . In 2000 it began broadcasting Kaikà Âura on , Dunedin on , Invercargill on , and around the country on .
Tahu FM resumed broadcasting five days after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, with assistance from Te Upoko O Te Ika and other radio stations, and operated as the city's MÃÂori language civil defence station. In December 2014 it was recognised as the country's highest-rating MÃÂori radio station.