Ngāti Pāoa history

Below is the Ngāti Pāoa statement of association for Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana, as recorded in the Ngāti Pāoa Deed of Settlement (Attachments Schedule). This statement of association relates to “Ngā Tai Whakarewa Kauri”, the Marutūāhu Iwi (Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngaati Whanaunga, and Te Patukirikiri) Coastal Statutory Acknowledgement, which the Crown had committed to provide through the Marutūāhu Iwi Collective Redress Deed, with each iwi providing their own statement of association. The kōrero is written by the late Morehu Wilson.

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Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana

The coastal marine area of Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana (Firth of Thames) and the Hauraki Gulf is an integral part of Ngāti Paoa’s rohe in Hauraki and Tāmaki Makaurau. Areas of particular cultural significance include the coastal areas from the Piako River near Thames, running west to the Waitakaruru River, travelling northward along the western coast of Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana, scattered around the inner harbour coastline of Tāmaki, and proceeding north again through to Mahurangi.

Other significant interests for Ngāti Paoa lie with the many Hauraki Gulf Islands such as Karamuramu, Pākihi, Pōnui, Rātōroa, Pākatoa, Waiheke, Motuihe / Te Motu-a-lhenga, Motutapu, Rangitoto, Otata, Motuhorapapa, Rākino, Tiritiri Matangi, Motuora, Te Haupā and Kawau. Occupation of pā, kāinga and fishing stations on the coastline of Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana (Firth of Thames), the coastline of Tāmaki Makaurau, including the coastline from Te Hau Kapua (Devonport) through to Mahurangi in the north were important bastions that supported the development and vitality of Ngāti Paoa. Coastal fisheries and other resources were controlled and managed by the various Ngāti Paoa hapū, who exercised their customary kaitiaki role.

Ngāti Paoa have strong and unbroken traditional, historical, cultural and spiritual associations with the coastline and its ecosystems. These associations remain today, and are central to the identity and mauri of the iwi. A widespread complex matrix of pā, cultivations and fishing areas were located primarily at river mouths all along the coastal margin. Ngāti Paoa river-mouth settlements provided access to inland settlements and mahinga kai areas, including the flat, nutrient rich plains of Hauraki, as well as the Wharekawa west lowlands. The Pūkorokoro / Miranda inlet was a significant site for another reason. The ancestral waka Tainui briefly landed at Pūkorokoro / Miranda and left an anchor stone in the area. The Tainui waka had brought many of Ngāti Paoa’s tūpuna (ancestors) to Pare Hauraki. They travelled along the western coastline of the Firth of Thames before landing on the Wharekawa foreshore at Waihihī. Reference is made to Waihihī as a result of Hoturoa’s junior wife’s indiscretion at this place, in an ancient prayer that continues to be recited by Ngāti Paoa kaumātua, and performed and celebrated in waiata and haka with Ngāti Paoa performing groups.

Te Tāpapakanga a Puku, Ōrere, Tāwhitokino, Karaka Taupo, Te Kawakawa and their environs contained many important fishing stations and tūranga waka. Te Tāpapakanga a Puku, Pāwhetau and Koherurahi were the most important of these. They consisted of large pā sites and kāinga complex overlooking beach lands where waka could be safely landed. Extensive racks used for net repair and drying fish were notable features of these places. Ūpokotoia – a great white shark and celebrated Ngāti Paoa taniwha – lived in this area, his name then becoming the name of an important Ngāti Paoa hapū. A pā, kāinga and fishing complex occupied much of the shoreline at Kawakawa Bay. This is the burial place of the celebrated Ngāti Paoa rangatira Te Haupā (Upoko Ariki Toihau o Ngāti Paoa). It has added significance for Ngāti Paoa as Te Urikaraka, an important hapū of Ngāti Paoa, formed extensive occupation, cultivation and fishing station complexes within the immediate vicinity, including two significant pā sites. The shoreline contains burials and the last known great waka of Ngāti Paoa, Kahumauroa, Te Kotūiti and Te Raukawakawa were left on the shoreline at the end of their respective marine lives. This important coastline was significant in that Ngāti Paoa's beliefs and customary burials were commonly carried out in close proximity to tidal areas and tidal flats associated with the relevant hapū and whānau of the specific area. Further Ngāti Paoa pā, kāinga and fishing stations could be found all along the eastern coast of Tāmaki Makaurau and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf.

Among the most important of these was Waiheke, renowned for its kaimoana, fresh water sources and fertile gardens. Estuarine areas were an especially prized source of kaimoana, fish, birds and textiles such as raupō and harakeke. The large estuaries of Waiheke Island were particularly significant to supporting and nourishing important Ngāti Paoa pā and kāinga (Te Pūtiki o Kahu, Hoporata and Rangihoua). Horuhoru, a significant rock north of Waiheke, also known as Tikapa, was where the Tainui crew performed their protocols when they first arrived in the Hauraki Gulf.

The Waitematā inlet was the location of a favourite rock, Te Routu o Ureia, of the celebrated Ngāti Paoa and Hauraki taniwha, Ureia. Tradition records that Ureia would come to this rock which was situated under the southern end of the Auckland harbour bridge to scratch his back. Ngāti Paoa resided within the coastal pā of Te Tō, which was an important location for Ngāti Paoa where they were able to fulfil their obligations as kaitiaki of Te Routu o Ureia.

Papakura Pā, a Ngāti Paoa pā site located south of Te Haupā Island, at Tiritiri Matangi, was important as it both provided a site for Ngāti Paoa to develop and expand, while also doubling as a supporting base for the iwi when the Mahurangi area was inundated with waka and fisherman during the important shark fishing seasons. Te Haupā Island, near the Mahurangi Harbour, was named after the Ngāti Paoa tupuna Te Haupā. As the great great grand-son of Paoa and Tukutuku, Te Haupā is an important tūpuna who engaged with the early missionaries on their visits to Aotearoa, and lead Ngāti Paoa throughout the turbulent years of the late eighteenth century and into the early nineteenth century.

Relationships were established between the various tribes of Hauraki and the tribes associated with Mahurangi.

Marutūāhu, eponymous ancestor of the Marutūāhu confederation of tribes, and Pikirangi (of Ngāti Apakura and father of the renowned sisters Reipae and Reitū) were related. Reipae and Reitū’s descendants are of northern Rangatiratanga (Chieftainship) and indeed, associated with the Mahurangi region. Marutūāhu and Pikirangi’s grandfathers were brothers, and consequently claim common descent from their great grandfather Whatihua. Marutūāhu was a contemporary of Maki-nui, father of Manuhiri, Maraeariki and Tawhiakiterangi. Marutūāhu and Maki-nui both emigrated from Kawhia on the west coast, making their homes in distant lands. Marutūāhu, arriving at Hauraki in search of his father Hotunui who had earlier emigrated from Kāwhia, performed rites of entry to a new land on the eastern face of Kohukohunui overlooking Tīkapa Moana. Marutūāhu was also a direct descendant of Toi te Huatahi via Taneroroa and Ruapūtāhanga of the Aotea waka, Taranaki.

Marutūāhu had two wives who were sisters and of the Maruiwi and Te Tini o Toi tribal entities, as well as the latter Hauraki and Te Arawa ancestors. With the arrival of Hotunui, and Marutūāhu at Hauraki, the Tainui influence began to develop. Marutūāhu and his two wives resided at Wharekawa, Hauraki. Marutūāhu’s second son Tamaterā wed Moemoewhitia of the Mahurangi region, and their son Putahi-a-Reua / Rehua lived at Aotea.