Ngāti Ranginui is a Māori iwi centred in Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand. Ngāti Ranginui is one of the three Tauranga Moana tribes, maintaining close ties with Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Pūkenga. In the 2001 census, 6,120 people claimed affiliation to the iwi, representing 9 hapu and 10 marae. The Tauranga Moana iwi recognise Mt Maunganui (or Mauao) as sacred. Ngāti Ranginui presently occupy the shoreline of Tauranga Moana.
History
Ranginui is the founding ancestor of the iwi. In Tauranga traditions, Ranginui was the son of Tamatea-pokai-whenua1 from the Takitimu2 canoe. Ranginui was the brother of Kahungunu (the founding ancestor of Ngāti Kahungunu) and Whaene. His brothers eventually moved to other regions of the North Island, while he remained in Tauranga, settling along the Wairoa River. His descendants would eventually form the Ngāti Ranginui iwi.
In 1864, the Tauranga Moana iwi collectively fought against Crown troops stationed in Tauranga. A notable victory occurred at Gate Pā, but eventually thousands of hectares of land was confiscated. Ngāti Ranginui continues to seek redress with the New Zealand Government for their losses in the New Zealand Land Wars of the 1860s, together with the other Tauranga Moana iwi.
Notes
- ^ Some traditions identify Tamatea-pokai-whenua as the grandson of Tamatea Arikinui, while others indicate that these names represent the same person - see Tākitimu
- ^ So spelled in Tauranga traditions
References
See also
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