Muriwhenua
 Cape Reinga, Far North, in the rohe (tribal area) of the Muriwhenua people. | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Northland, New Zealand | |
| Languages | |
| Māori language |
The Muriwhenua are a group of five northern Māori iwi occupying Te Hiku o te Ika, the northernmost part of the North Island of New Zealand. The name Muriwhenua means "this is the end of the land" and indicates the rohe (traditional tribal lands) of the iwi, extending up the North Auckland Peninsula from the Maungataniwha Range to Cape Reinga. The name Te Hiku o te Ika translates as the tail of the fish, meaning the end of the North Island, which in Māori mythology is the fish Maui caught.[1] The spiritually significant Hokianga Harbour, located just to the south of the Maungataniwha Range, is also considered to be of special significance to the Muriwhenua people.
The iwi which form the Muriwhenua are Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Kurī, Te Rarawa, and Ngāi Takoto. The name is sometimes also used for the rohe of these iwi: the northern part of the Far North District.[1]
Notable people
- Hector Busby, navigator and waka builder
- Tina Cross, entertainer
- Whina Cooper, community leader
- Mitch Evans, racing car driver
- Anahera Herbert-Graves, Māori leader
- Ralph Hotere, artist
- Margaret Mutu, academic
- Shane Jones, politician
- Stacey Jones, rugby league player
- Anika Moa, recording artist
- Mamari Stephens, lecturer
- Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia, Māori suffragist
References
- 1 2 Taonui, Rāwiri (10 February 2015). "Muriwhenua tribes". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 15 September 2016.