Ngāti Whakahemo
| Ngāti Whakahemo | |
|---|---|
| Iwi (tribe) in Māoridom | |
| Rohe (region) | Bay of Plenty |
| Waka (canoe) | Tākitimu, Te Arawa, Mātaatua |
| Population | 3000 (projected) |
Ngāti Whakahemo is a Māori iwi of New Zealand.[1] Its rohe (tribal area) covers the areas around Pongakawa and Pukehina, as well as Mōtītī Island, Motuhaku Island and Motunau / Plate Island, in the Bay of Plenty region.[1] Since 1998, the iwi has been pursuing claims to Pongakawa and Pukehina before the Waitangi tribunal.
History
The tribe traces its ancestry back to the ancestor Maruāhaira, who descended from the arrivals on the Tākitimu waka (migration canoe). Maruāhaira affiliated to Te Arawa and Mātaatua waka through marriages, and the iwi has maintained an historical association with Te Arawa.[1] The people were originally settled at Tawhitirahi, near Opotiki, but were attacked by Ngāti Hā and fled, beginning a long period of migration for Rangihouhiri, known as Te Heke o Te Rangihouhiri.[2] They first fled to the East Cape, where they were given refuge by Te Waho-o-te-rangi, who settled them on Te Whakaroa mountain on the Waimata River. Later, he decided to kill them all, but they found out about his plans and ambushed his attack force. Maruāhaira was one of the chiefs who led the people away to Hakuranui at Tōrere on the Bay of Plenty (northeast of their original home at Tawhitirahi).[2] Maruāhaira's son-in-law, Te Arairehe of Waitaha, who lived at Pukehina, insulted Maruāhaira, so he and his son Maraika attacked Pukehina. They settled there and established Ngāti Whakahemo (literally 'the descendants of the one who departed').[3][4]
Treaty claim
Ngāti Whakahemo decided to submit a claim for redress from the Crown to the Waitangi Tribunal in 1998, which was formally lodged in 2008 as WAI 1471 (Pukehina) and WAI 2536 (Pongakawa). The Crown responded that Ngāti Whakahemo was a hapu of Ngāti Pikiao and that its claims were therefore covered by the Te Arawa settlement, which was finalised by the Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hapū Settlement Act 2008, but Ngāti Whakahemo challenged this on the grounds that it is descended from Maruahira not Pikiao.[5] In 2013, the iwi had a disagreement with Landcorp over the sale of Wharere Farm, publicly-owned farmland it said had been confiscated by the Crown.[6] Ngāti Whakahemo established the Ngāti Whakahemo Claims Committee to pursue the disagreement through the courts. In 2016, the Supreme Court of New Zealand ruled that the sale had been wrongful, but refused to reverse it.[7] The Supreme Court also ruled that Ngāti Whakahemo's treaty claims, WAI 1471 (Pukehina) and WAI 2536 (Pongakawa), could proceed. In 2022, the Crown met with Ngati Whakahemo in Pukehina and agreed to enter into negotiations. In 2023, the claims committee established the Ngāti Whakahemo Claims Trust. As of 2025, this trust is seeking a mandate from Ngāti Whakahemo to pursue the negotiations on the iwi's behalf.[5]
Organisation
The Ngāti Whakahemo Iwi Authority represents the iwi for the purposes of the Resource Management Act 1991. It is an incorporated society with a board consisting of 4-5 members elected by iwi members. As of 2025, the chair is Mita Ririnui. In addition, as of 2025, the Ngāti Whakahemo Claims Trust is seeking a mandate to pursue treaty claims on behlaf of the iwi. Its chair is also Mita Ririnui.[8]
Marae
The iwi has no hapū. It is affiliated with two marae:[8]
| Marae | Wharenui | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Pukehina | Tawakemoetahanga | 1903 SH2, Pukehina |
| Te Awhe o te Rangi | Te Awhe o te Rangi | 29 Te Awhe Road, Maketū |
Pukehina is the main marae; Te Awhe o te Rangi is shared with several other iwi.
Communications
Te Arawa FM is the radio station of Te Arawa iwi, including Ngāti Pikiao, Tūhourangi and Ngāti Whakaue. It was established in the early 1980s and became a charitable entity in November 1990.[9] The station underwent a major transformation in 1993, becoming Whanau FM.[10] One of the station's frequencies was taken over by Mai FM in 1998; the other became Pumanawa FM before later reverting to Te Arawa FM.[11] It is available on 89.0 FM in Rotorua.[12]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "TKM". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
- ^ a b Stafford 1967, p. 114.
- ^ Stafford 1967, p. 116-117.
- ^ "whakahemo". Te Aka Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
- ^ a b Ngāti Whakahemo Claims Trust. "Our Journey". Ngāti Whakahemo Claims Trust. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
- ^ "Ngati Whakahemo has no claim - Landcorp". Radio New Zealand. 4 December 2013.
- ^ Waatea Team. "Ngati Whakahemo thwarted in farm buy". Waatea News. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
- ^ a b Te Puni Kokiri. "Ngāti Whakahemo". Te Kahui Mangai. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
- ^ "About Te Arawa". Te Arawa Online. Te Arawa Communications. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- ^ "Major transformation for Te Arawa iwi radio station". No. 14. Kia Hiwa Ra. September 1993. p. 8.
- ^ "Rotorua". Welcome to the Radio Vault. New Zealand: The Radio Vault. 18 January 2009. Archived from the original on 15 April 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ "Iwi Radio Coverage" (PDF). maorimedia.co.nz. Māori Media Network. 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
Bibliography
- Stafford, D.M. (1967). Te Arawa: A History of the Arawa People. Rotorua, New Zealand: A.H. & A.W. Reed.
External links
- Ngāti Whakahemo Claims Trust. "Home". Ngāti Whakahemo Claims Trust. Retrieved 18 August 2025.