Te Arawa is a confederation of MÃÂori iwi and hapà « (tribes and sub-tribes) of New Zealand who trace their ancestry to the Arawa migration canoe (waka). The tribes are based in the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty areas and have a population of around 60,117 according to the 2018 census, making the confederation the sixth biggest iwi in New Zealand. The Te Arawa iwi comprises 56 hapà « (sub-tribes) and 31 marae (family groupings).
Te Arawa iwi are descended from people who migrated to New Zealand on the Arawa canoe. They settled in the Bay of Plenty region, principally around the Rotorua lakes. Three main subtribes developed: NgÃÂti Pikiao occupied the eastern end of Lake Rotoiti and the area around Lake Rotoehu and Lake RotomÃÂ; Tà «hourangi occupied the upper Kaituna River, western Lake Rotoiti and the south-east side of Lake Rotorua including à Âhinemutu; NgÃÂti Whakaue, formerly known as Te Uri o Uenukukà Âpako, occupied Mokoia Island and the north-west side of Lake Rotorua.
Many Te Arawa men fought for the colonial government in the New Zealand Wars that took place in the North Island in the mid-19th century. Perhaps in part, for this reason, the iwi chose to negotiate directly with the New Zealand Government over their historical grievances, bypassing the Waitangi Tribunal. A series of negotiations has resulted in several settlements of their various claims, the largest of which involve the settlement relating to the 14 lakes, signed in December 2004, and the settlement for all the historical claims of a cluster of Te Arawa iwi and hapu signed on 30 September 2006. The Government apologised to Te Arawa for breaches of the Treaty and paid $36 million in compensation, including up to 500 kmò of Crown forest land, as well as 19 areas of special significance, including the Whakarewarewa Thermal Springs Reserve.
On 18 December 2015 Te Arawa gained the right to vote in committee meetings of the Rotorua Lakes Council via an iwi partnership board, Te Tatau o Te Arawa.
Te Arawa FM is the radio station of Te Arawa iwi, including NgÃÂti Pikiao, Tà «hourangi and NgÃÂti Whakaue. It was established in the early 1980s and became a charitable entity in November 1990. The station underwent a major transformation in 1993, becoming Whanau FM. One of the station's frequencies 99.1 was taken over by Mai FM in 1998; the other became Pumanawa 89FM before later reverting to Te Arawa FM. It is available on in Rotorua the 99.1 frequency is now broadcasting commercial station The Heat 991 FM which started broadcasting 15 April 2015.
The iwi and hapu that constitute Te Arawa include:
NgÃÂti Whakaue, NgÃÂti Rangiteaorere, NgÃÂti Pikiao, NgÃÂti MÃÂkino, NgÃÂti Rangitihi, NgÃÂti Rangiwewehi, Tapuika, Waitaha, NgÃÂti Ngararanui, NgÃÂti Rongomai, NgÃÂti Tahu â NgÃÂti Whaoa, NgÃÂti TarÃÂwhai, NgÃÂti Te Roro o Te Rangi, NgÃÂti Kea NgÃÂti Tuara, NgÃÂti Tura-NgÃÂti Te Ngakau, NgÃÂti Uenukukà Âpako, Tà «hourangi, NgÃÂti Hei, NgÃÂti Huarere and NgÃÂti WÃÂhiao.