Ngāi Tahu

Ngāi Tahu, or Kāi Tahu, is the principal Māori 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 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 takiwā (tribal area) is the largest in the country, and extends from Kaikoura in the north to Stewart Island/Rakiura in the south, and includes the west coast area, Tai Poutini. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu is constituted of Runanga/Runaka representing geographical areas, generally based around traditional settlements.

Kāi Tahu are descended from Tahu Potiki, younger brother of Porourangi, father of the East Coast tribe of Ngati Porou

Dialect

Kāi Tahu is recognised as having a distinct dialect of Māori, often referred to as Southern Māori. 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), v (e.g., Mavora), and l which substitutes for r (e.g., Little Akaloa, Kilmog, Waihola, Rakiula (a variation of the Rakiura component of Stewart Island/Rakiura). The "wh" of northern Māori is also often replaced by a simple "w" or even "u", and apocope (the dropping of the final letter of words) can occur (which may explain the pronunciation of Waikouaiti as 'wack-oh-white').

Until the last decade or so, Southern Māori was discouraged in favour of standard (Waikato) Māori, but has gained 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 centuries, but now is graced with the official name of Aoraki/Mount Cook. Some academics have argued that standardisation of te reo will be necessary for its survival, but at least in place names, and some more local language, not standard variants are likely to remain.

Papatipu Runaka

Papatipu Runanga/Runaka are constituent areas of Kāi Tahu, each with an elected board who then elect a representative to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Unusually, Kāi Tahu has 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. 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