A kÃÂinga (southern MÃÂori: kaika or kaik) is the traditional form of village habitation of pre-European MÃÂori in New Zealand. It was unfortified or only lightly fortified, and over time became less important than the well-fortified pÃÂ.
KÃÂinga were generally unfortified or only lightly fortified, as opposed to the well-defended pÃÂ. They were generally coastal, and often found near to a river mouth. The settlement was generally occupied by members of one hapà « (sub-tribe), which would identify itself with the nearest mountain and river (even in modern MÃÂori, when meeting someone new, "what is your mountain?" is not an unusual question, and naming a mountain and river is a standard part of a traditional introduction or pepeha).
KÃÂinga were often regarded as only semi-permanent settlements, and they were often abandoned. Reasons for abandonment included invasion by other iwi or resource shortages. Traditionally, MÃÂori were often semi-nomadic, with entire communities moving at harvest or to hunt, using the kÃÂinga as a stable home base. An entire settlement could be declared tapu on the death of a tribal elder, with its inhabitants moving to a new location nearby. Takapà «neke near present-day Akaroa, for example, was subject to a massacre in 1830. Survivors mostly lived in nearby à Ânuku and Takapà «neke having been declared a sacred site, it was avoided by the local hapà « for over 100 years.
When European whalers arrived in New Zealand and established bases, kÃÂinga would often shift to near the newcomers so that trading would be easier.
In modern MÃÂori, kÃÂinga is the word for "home".