Ngāti Rangitihi

Ngāti Rangitihi is a Māori iwi of Aotearoa New Zealand, located in the Bay of Plenty.

Ngati Rangitihi is a tribe of the greater Te Arawa confederation of tribes. Nga pumanawa e waru o Te Arawa, the 8 beating hearts of Te Arawa derives from the 8 children of the eponymous Rangitihi.

From Rangitihi come the main tribal groups of Te Arawa, but Ngati Rangitihi take their name rightly from Rangitihikahira, who was the daughter of Apumoana, son of Rangitihi. She married Mahi, who was the son of Rangiaohia, another son of Rangtihi. Ngati Rangitihi origins are from the union of Rangitihikahira & Mahi's marriage.

History

Ngati Rangitihi history is carved into the pole beside of the Rangiaohia wharenui at the Matata Pa and at Tamatekapua wharenui at Te Papaiouru Marae at Rotorua, Ngati Rangitihi is the carved figure at the top of the pole, the 8 beating hearts are below Rangitihi. Their hapu, Ngati Mahi and Ngati Tionga are the recognised hapu of Ngati Rangitihi today.

The Ngati Tionga hapu has occupied (Ahika) Otamarora (Matata) since 1700, under the chiefs Rohi, Tewhareiti, Tionga, Tangihia Tionga and Porione Tangihia.

Pre-1928, carvings were green. The Whare Nui was named Tionga.

The Tionga Marae was located on Lot 5, Arawa Street, Matata, where it was owned by members Tangihia family. In the late 1880s Ngati Mahi renovated the Tionga marae, replacing the thatch with an iron roof and the raupo wall panels with sawn timber. In 1928 a tornado lifted the marae building up and carried it to its present location. It was renamed the Rangiohia Whare nui and has been maintained by Ngati Rangitihi ever since.

Note: The first and original Rangitihi house belonged to the Ngati-Rangiwewehi chief Te Rangitewhata and stood at Puhirua pa on the shores of Lake Rotorua. The second belonged to Te Waata Taranui of Ngati Pikiao and is currently in the Auckland museum. The 3rd stands at Te Taheke, on the shores of Lake Rotoiti and is in use to this day.

Rohe (traditional lands)

The recognised Rohe of Ngati Rangitihi as submitted to the Waitangi Tribunal in evidence during an urgent hearing in February 2002. It was not challenged by the legal Counsel for the Crown, Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau or Ngati Awa who were all present at the time.

The Ngati Rangitihi land (rohe) extends from the East side of the Tarawera River mouth to Otamarakau, inland to Lake Rotoehu, through Lake Rotoma and through Lake Okataina and Lake Tarawera. South into the Kaingaroa Forest. East including the western third of the Matahina Block. Pokohu and Putauaki and out to the coast following the line of the Tarawera River.

External links

• http://www.rangitihi.com

See also

• List of Māori iwi