Ngāti Pūkenga | |
---|---|
Iwi of New Zealand | |
Rohe (region) | Tauranga |
Waka (canoe) | Mataatua |
Population | 2,175 |
Website | www |
Ngāti Pūkenga is a Māori iwi centred in Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand. Its rohe (tribal area) extends to Mayor Island / Tuhua and Waihi in the north, to the Kaimai Range in the west, south of Te Puke and to Maketu in the east, and it has tribal holdings in Whangarei, Hauraki and Maketu. The Tauranga Moana iwi group, consisting of Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngaiterangi and Ngāti Ranginui, maintain strong ties and consider Mauao (Mt Maunganui) sacred.
The Tauranga Moana iwi including Ngāti Pūkenga continue to seek redress with the New Zealand Government for their losses in the New Zealand Land Wars, but no settlement has been reached so far.
Pūkenga is the founding ancestor of the iwi. Pūkenga was of Mataatua descent, and spent his life in Ruatoki. Upon his death, his people, known as Ngāti Hā, moved east towards Opotiki. This resulted in the displacement of the tribe of Rōmainohorangi. Later, the displaced tribe, now known as Ngāti Te Rangihouhiri, requested the help of Ngāti Hā in battle. For their assistance, Ngāti Pūkenga, as they were now known, were given land in Tauranga, where their main settlements still stand today. Ngāti Pūkenga also received land given to them in Hauraki, the little village of Manaia, where direct descendants of Ngāti Pūkenga, and Pūkenga himself still remain.