Ngāti Apa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ngāti Apa is an iwi of New Zealand.
Documented history describing the Maori people of the Rangitikei, Turakina, Whangaehu and Mangawhero Rivers identifies these people as Ngati Apa. It is generally perceived that Ngati Apa is an old name for these people, and that all these people are the descendants of Apahapaitaketake, the eponymous ancestor of Ngati Apa, from whom they no doubt received their land rights and status as tangata whenua. However, this is not the case.
Our own research portrays Ngati Apa as an alliance of Nga Wairiki and Rangitikei people which emerged from events in the 1820s, 1830s and 1840s. Nga Wairiki is an old name given to the river systems of Mangawhero, Whangaehu and Turakina. The different branches of Nga Wairiki and Rangitikei, otherwise referred to as the hapu of both Nga Wairiki and Ngati Apa, emphasised different ancestors and origins as the basis of their identity. These ancestors were not necessarily connected to Apahapaitaketake and the Kurahaupo waka, particularly in the case of Nga Wairiki.
Ngati Apa is therefore an alliance that was formed out of circumstances during the early and mid 1800s. The parties to this alliance were not simply divided as Nga Wairiki and Rangitikei. There are three main collectives of hapu within Nga Wairiki that are constituted by their whakapapa to their lands;
Nga Ariki (Ngati Rangitumoana, Ngati Tamawaina and Ngati Hinewai), Ngati Rangipuhi and Ngati Kiriwheke and others; These hapu occupied the lands around the Tini Waitara Marae near Turakina, and across the River over much of the Waipu Block, including the township of Ratana. The prevalent ancestor through whom lands were held was named Tamarehe, who was connected to South Taranaki in terms of origins.
Ngati Rangiwhakaturia, Ngati Ratua, Ngati Hikapirau, Ngati Kiriwheke and Ngati Tamaea and others; These hapu occupied the lands around the Whangaehu Marae, on the lower reaches of the Whangaehu River. The prevalent ancestors for these lands were Rangiwhakaturia and his sister Taitapu. Emphasis is placed on their descent from Turi and the Aotea waka.
Ngati Huru, Ngati Paenga, Ngati Hou, Ngati Tukorero and others; These hapu occupied lands around the Kauangaroa Marae on the middle and upper reaches of the Whangaehu and Turakina Rivers, and the lower reaches of the Mangawhero River (which flows into the Whangaehu River inland of Kauangaroa). The prevalent ancestor for these lands appears to be Paerangi, an ancient ancestor more commonly associated with Whanganui / Te Ati Haunui-a-Paparangi people.
On the Rangitikei River there were two separate groups of hapu similarly bound by shared descent from founding ancestors from whom land rights were derived;
Ngati Tupua, Ngati Tupataua, Ngati Ika, Ngati Pikinau, Ngati Rakeipou and others; These hapu occupied the lands inland of Parewanui, extending up to Bulls, Rata and as far inland as the Makohine Stream, near Ohingaiti. The prevalent ancestor for these lands appears to have been Tuariki, an ancient ancestor who was descended from Apahapaitaketake. Tuariki is remembered as the master of a taniwha named Tutaeporoporo.
Ngati Kauae, Ngati Tauira and others; These hapu occupied from Parewanui to the Rangitikei River mouth, and across to Oroua and the Himatangi area. The prevalent ancestor was Papawhenua who was of both Matahourua and Kurahaupo origins. Papawhenua was a direct descendant of Apahapaitaketake.
The ability of these otherwise autonomous collectives to band together under the banner of Ngati Apa was facilitated by extensive intermarriage between Nga Wairiki and Rangitikei over many generations of co-existence. By the 1800s, many of the Nga Wairiki people were also descendants of Apahapaitaketake through Tuariki and Papawhenua. However, not all members of Nga Wairiki were descendants of Apa, and this needs to be recognised in order that these people are not forgotten or disenfranchised in any way.
Today, mainly due to the manner in which reserves were allocated to the branches of Ngati Apa, the Rangitikei based hapu have all but disappeared. These hapu received only small reserves. The last standing whare, Apa, stood just inland of Parewanui. During the 1990's this historic house was effectively decommissioned and was removed from its original foundation and attached to a nearby residence.
The historically significant Parewanui Marae fell into disrepair and ceased to function during the 1950's. An initiative is underway within Ngati Kauae and Ngati Tauira to restore an active presence at Parewanui.
Unlike Rangitikei sections, the Nga Wairiki hapu were allocated extensive reserves. Subsequently, there are three historical Marae which are still functioning and two new whanau Marae. The historical Marae are the Tini Waitara Marae, the Whangaehu Marae and the Kauangaroa Marae. The newer whanau Marae are Te Kapua, which is located near to the Kauangaroa Marae, and Kahurauponga, which is located near to the Tini Waitara Marae.
