Ngai Tahu
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Ngāi Tahu, or Kāi Tahu, is the principal iwi (tribe) of the southern region of New Zealand. The tribal authority, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, is based in Christchurch. Two other iwi, Waitaha, and then Kati Mamoe, lived in the South Island prior to the arrival of Ngai Tahu. Some people claim to be explicitly descended from one or both of these earlier tribes (often in conjunction with Kāi Tahu). However, others argue that due to conflict and intermarriage these groups have been incorporated into Kāi Tahu, and are no longer distinct.
The iwi's "takiwa" (tribal area) is the largest in the country, and extends from Kaikoura in the north to Stewart Island in the south, and includes the west coast area, Tai Poutini. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu is constitued of Runanga/Runaka representing geographical areas, generally based around traditional settlements.
Kāi Tahu are descended from Tahu Potiki, son of Paikea (of Whale Rider fame), and are thus related to Ngati Porou.
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Dialect
Kāi Tahu is recognised as having a distinct dialect of Maori, often referred to as Southern Maori. The most obvious feature is the substitution of k for ng, as evidenced in the tribal name (Ngāi Tahu is the name used in certain acts of Parliament, leading to the common usage of both versions of the name). Other variations from more northern dialects include the presence of extra consonants g (as distinct from ng, e.g., Katigi, Otago), and l which substitutes for r (e.g., Little Akaloa, Kilmog, Waihola, Rakiula (a variation of Rakiura or Stewart Island). The "wh" of northern Maori is also often replaced by a simple "w" or even "u", and apocope (the dropping of the final letter of words) can occur.
Until the last decade or so, Southern Maori was discouraged in favour of standard (Waikato) Maori, but has gained in acceptance in recent years, leading to changes in the official names and translations of several southern places and institutions. Mount Cook, for example, was also known as Aorangi for many years, but now is graced by the alternative name of Aoraki.
Papatipu Runaka
Papatipu Runanga/Runaka are constituent areas of Kāi Tahu, each with an elected board who then elect a reprepesentative to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Unusually, Kāi Tahu has an a very corporate structure, in part due to the death of the last Upoko Ariki (paramount chief), Te Maiharanui, at around the time of the arrival of europeans to New Zealand. Geographical descriptions are taken from the Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu (Declaration of Membership) Order 2001 (http://gpacts.knowledge-basket.co.nz/regs/regs/text/2001/2001200.txt). English equivalents of places are included in brackets.
Canterbury Runanga
- Te Runanga o Kaikoura
- The takiwa of Te Runanga o Kaikoura centres on Takahanga and extends from Te Parinui o Whiti to the Hurunui River and inland to the Main Divide.
- Te Ngai Tuahuriri
- The takiwa of Te Ngai Tuahuriri Runanga centres on Runanga Tuahiwi and extends from the Hurunui to Hakatere (Ashburton, New Zealand), sharing an interest with Arowhenua Runanga northwards to Rakaia, and thence inland to the Main Divide.
- Rapaki Runanga
- The takiwa of Rapaki Runanga centres on Rapaki and includes the catchment of Whakaraupo and Te Kaituna.
- Te Runanga o Koukourarata
- The takiwa of Te Runanga o Koukourarata centres on Koukourarata (Port Levy) and extends from Pohatu Pa to the shores of Te Waihora including Te Kaituna.
- Wairewa Runanga
- The takiwa of Wairewa Runanga centres on Wairewa and the catchment of the lake Te Wairewa and the hills and coast to the adjoining takiwa of Koukourarata, Onuku Runanga, and Taumutu Runanga.
- Te Runanga o Onuku
- The takiwa of Te Runanga o Onuku centres on Onuku and the hills and coasts of Akaroa to the adjoining takiwa of Te Runanga o Koukourarata and Wairewa Runanga.
- Taumutu Runanga
- The takiwa of Taumutu Runanga centres on Taumutu and the waters of Te Waihora and adjoining lands and shares a common interest with Te Ngai Tuahuriri Runanga and Te Runanga o Arowhenua in the area south to Hakatere (Ashburton).
- Te Runanga o Arowhenua
- The takiwa of Te Runanga o Arowhenua centres on Arowhenua (Temuka and extends from Rakaia to Waitaki, sharing interests with Ngai Tuahuriri ki Kaiapoi between Hakatere and Rakaia, and thence inland to Aoraki and the Main Divide.
- Te Runanga o Waihao
- The takiwa of Te Runanga o Waihao centres on Wainono, sharing interests with Te Runanga o Arowhenua to Waitaki, and extends inland to Omarama and the Main Divide.
Otago Runanga
- Te Runanga o Moeraki
- The takiwa of Te Runanga o Moeraki centres on Moeraki and extends from Waitaki to Waihemo and inland to the Main Divide.
- Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki
- The takiwa of Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki centres on Karitane and extends from Waihemo to Purehurehu and includes an interest in Otepoti ( Dunedin) and the greater harbour of Otakou. The takiwa extends inland to the Main Divide sharing an interest in the lakes and mountains to Whakatipu-Waitai with Runanga to the south.
- Te Runanga o Otakou
- The takiwa of Te Runanga o Otakou centres on Otakou and extends from Purehurehu to Te Matau and inland, sharing an interest in the lakes and mountains to the western coast with Runanga to the North and to the South (includes the city of Dunedin).
Southland Runanga
- Waihopai Runaka
- The takiwa of Waihopai Runaka centres on Waihopai and extends northwards to Te Matau sharing an interest in the lakes and mountains to the western coast with other Murihiku (Southland) Runanga and those located from Waihemo southwards.
- Te Runanga o Awarua
- The takiwa of Te Runanga o Awarua centres on Awarua and extends to the coasts and estuaries adjoining Waihopai sharing an interest in the lakes and mountains between Whakatipu-Waitai and Tawhititarere with other Murihiku (Southland) Runanga and those located from Waihemo southwards.
- Te Runanga o Oraka Aparima
- The takiwa of Te Runanga o Oraka Aparima centres on Oraka and extends from Waimatuku to Tawhititarere sharing an interest in the lakes and mountains from Whakatipu-Waitai to Tawhititarere with other Murihiku Runanga and those located from Waihemo southwards.
- Hokonui Runaka
- The takiwa of Hokonui Runaka centres on the Hokonui region and includes a shared interest in the lakes and mountains between Whakatipu-Waitai and Tawhitarere with other Murihiku Runanga and those located from Waihemo southwards.
West Coast Runanga
- Te Runanga o Makaawhio
- The takiwa of Te Runanga o Makaawhio is centred at Mahitahi (Bruce Bay) and extends from the south bank of the Pouerua River to Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) and inland to the Main Divide, together with a shared interest with Te Runaka o Kati Waewae in the area situated between the north bank of the Pouerua River and the south bank of the Hokitika River. The runanga's marae, Te Tauraka Waka a Maui, at Mahitahi, was officially opened on 23 January 2005.
- Te Runaka o Kati Waewae
- The takiwa of Te Runaka o Kati Waewae is centred on Arahura and Hokitika and extends from the north bank of the Hokitika River to Kahuraki and inland to the Main Divide, together with a shared interest with Te Runanga o Makaawhio in the area situated between the north bank of the Pouerua River and the south bank of the Hokitika River.
External links
- Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu website (http://www.ngaitahu.iwi.nz/)mi:Ngāi Tahu