HISTORIC OVERVIEW

HAPU

Ko Tongariro te maunga

Ko Rotoaira te moana

Ko Te Wharerangi te tangata     

IWI

Ko Tongariro te maunga

Ko Taupo te moana

Ko Tuwharetoa te iwi

Ko te Heuheu te tangata

The Hapū Pepehā of Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro was first spoken by Mananui Tukino (II) when referring to his cousin Te Wharerangi as being the guardian, and first line of defence of our sacred mountains and the southern Tuwharetoa boundaries.

The Tribal Pepehā which is now synonymous with the identity of Ngāti Tuwharetoa was bestowed upon Mananui Tukino (II) by Potatu Te Wherowhero at Pukawa during the time that the Chiefs of the many tribes of Aotearoa gathered to discuss the Kingitanga and to choose a Māori King.

As a hapū of Ngāti Tuwharetoa, the tikanga of Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro will be consistent with upholding the inherent values and tikanga of both the Hapū and Iwi Pepeha.

It must be noted that our tikanga is not about land tenure, or the Western views of land ownership. Rather it is about Rights of Sovereignty and other associate rights, such as occupancy, guardianship, protection of the land, and the manner in which it is utilised.

Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro do not see the land as something that belongs to us; rather, the basis of our tikanga is our continued right to belong to the land.