Marae
Whangaehu
In a way, the Whangaehu Marae has become a last bastion for the local hapū (subtribes) of Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa that once occupied the fertile plains of the Whangaehu River, from inland at Kohurupo and Manuriro, to the coast at Whitiau. These hapū were the descendants of a brother and sister named Rangiwhakaturia and Taitapu, who were themselves the descendants of Turi and Rongorongo of the Aotea waka, and had travelled to Whangaehu from South Taranaki. Rangiwhakaturia’s wife was Kahutoa, said to have been of Ngāti Rangi descent. Taitapu’s husband was Tumataikura, thought to have been of Paerangi descent.
Tini Waitara
Ko Paraekaretū te maunga
Ko Turakina te awa
Ko Te Horotaraipi rāua ko Taraipi o Oro ngā wharepuni
Ko Te Oranga te wharekai
Ko Te Mangungu te whare karakia
Ko Tini Waitara te marae
Tini Waitara is home to the Ngāti Tamawaina, Ngāti Hinewai, Ngāti Rangitūmoana, Ngāti Rangipuhi, Ngāti Tupataua, Ngāti Hika Pirau, Ngāti Ika, Ngāti Tumoetere, Ngāti Kiriwheke hapū and all people who make up the Ngā Ariki collective.
Our marae stands on ancestral lands, where whakapapa and histories live on. We are embraced by the warmth of every generation to go before us and every descendant who is still yet to come. Resting on the banks of the Turakina river, Tini Waitara remains an āhuru mōwai for all those who gather upon the whenua.
Kauangaroa
Ngā Wairiki ki Uta
This hapū collective covers a large area from Manuriro, at the top of the Ruatanga Road, inland to Paratieki, Heao and Maungakaretu. Kauangaroa stands as the surviving Marae for this hapū. The principle kāinga for this hapū had been Akerama, Matatera and Kauangaroa, amongst others.
In the late 1800s, this particular hapū collective adopted the political identity of Ngā Wairiki, and preferred to be called this rather than Ngāti Apa, a situation which still exists to this day. The whakapapa of this hapū emphasises Paerangi as a principle ancestor.
The ancient origins of this hapū are therefore shared with many hapū of Ngāti Rangi and Whanganui. Intertribal warfare, geographic separation from other Paerangi hapū and extensive intermarriage with other Ngā Wairiki and Rangitīkei hapū combined to lead this hapū to join the Ngāti Apa Iwi that formed in the early 1800s. These hapū are characterised by their ancestors and hapū rangatira historically being fiercely proud of their own hapū identity and authority over their lands and other resources.
The Ngāti Apa Iwi that formed in the 1830’s was created to benefit these hapū, and this theme of emphasising hapū identity and autonomy is etched into the kaupapa of Te Rūnanga o Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa today.
Ngāti Kauae & Ngāti Tauira
These hapū historically occupied the area from Waipatiki in the north to Omarupapako in the south, and inland to Oroua. This includes most of the coastline from just north of the Rangitikei River mouth to a point north of the Manawatu River mouth. Kauae and Tauira are inseparable, as they are the descendants of Papawhenua who, in turn, descends from the prestigous lines of Kurahaupo whakapapa, from Whatonga, and utimately Toi.
This hapū shares these ancient origins with hapū of Rangitāne and Muaūpoko. Despite these origins and traditions, intermarriages between these people and hapū inland on the Rangitīkei River, and north towards Turakina and Whangaehu created a strong bond with these lands and people of different origins, and ultimately lead to this hapū joining the Ngāti Apa alliance which took shape in the early 1800s.
The principle kāinga of these hapū were at Parewānui and Te Awahou, on the Rangitīkei River, with settlements on the Oroua River also.
