Story by Mīria Pōmare

Main image: Te Rauparaha’s moko

Lands

Today Ngāti Toarangatira's lands are largely in the south-western North Island, centred around Porirua and the Kāpiti Coast.

Tribal name and ancestors

Ngāti Toarangatira (also known as Ngāti Toa) trace their origins to theTainui canoe, captained by Hoturoa. One of Hoturoa’s descendants was the chief Tūpāhau. On a famous occasion, Tūpāhau spared the life of an enemy he had defeated. After that, his people were named Toarangatira – the tribe of chivalrous and chiefly warriors. Tūpāhau’s grandson, a great warrior, was also named Toarangatira.

Migration south

Ngāti Toa originally lived in the Kāwhia area on the North Island’s west coast. Because of conflicts with Waikato tribes, they decided to move south to the Kāpiti Coast in the early 1820s. Along the way a group of them, mainly women, met a war party. Te Rauparaha, Ngāti Toa's great leader, told them to dress as chiefs and stand beside several fires, to make the enemy think there were more of them. This part of their journey became known as Te Heke Tahutahuahi (the fire-lighting migration). When they reached Taranaki they rested for several months.

They were joined by Taranaki tribes on the next part of the migration. This journey was called Te Heke Tātaramoa (the bramble bush migration), because of the many obstacles they faced. The entire migration was called Te Heke Mai-i-raro (the migration from the north).

The rise and fall of Ngāti Toa

Between 1820 and the 1840s, with Te Rauparaha as their chief, Ngāti Toa became the dominant tribe on the Kāpiti Coast. They also conquered territory in the South Island, and controlled large areas on both sides of Cook Strait from their island fortress of Kāpiti. European settlers saw them as a threat. The government kidnapped Te Rauparaha and held him prisoner. Ngāti Toa were forced to sell most of their land.

The tribe today

The representative body of Ngāti Toa, TeRūnanga o ToaRangatira, looks after the land, resources andmana of the tribe. Redress for the unjust actions of the government in the past was agreed to in 2012. In 2013, almost 4,500 people claimed descent from Ngāti Toa.