Te Whanau-a-Apanui
Encyclopedia
Te Whānau-ā-Apanui is a Māori iwi
located in the eastern Bay of Plenty
and East Coast
regions of New Zealand
's North Island
. In 2006, the iwi registered 11,808 members, representing 13 hapu
.
of the Arawa canoe
, and the Ngāriki people of the Tauira
canoe.
During the 17th century, Apanui acquired vast amounts of land along the East Coast of the North Island. Through familial connection, he acquired land from Ngāti Porou
and Ngāriki. He was given land extending from Pōtikirua to Puketapu, and from Taumata-ō-Apanui to the Mōtū River; the land in between was later won through conquest.
and commercial agriculture
. Both areas become major economic industries for the iwi in the early 20th century, and profits were directed into community development projects.
Artists belonging to Te Whānau-ā-Apanui include Pineamine Taiapa, one of the foremost practitioners of traditional Māori carving; acclaimed artist Cliff Whiting
; and his son, artist and restoration expert Dean; actor and director Taika Waititi
; and educator and actor Wiremu Karuwha Tawhai .
and other industries. In particular, the Cyberwaka rural community project provides information technology
training.
Iwi
In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest everyday social units in Māori culture. The word iwi means "'peoples' or 'nations'. In "the work of European writers which treat iwi and hapū as parts of a hierarchical structure", it has been used to mean "tribe" , or confederation of tribes,...
located in the eastern Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name...
and East Coast
Gisborne, New Zealand
-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...
regions of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
. In 2006, the iwi registered 11,808 members, representing 13 hapu
Hapu
A hapū is sometimes described as "the basic political unit within Maori society".A named division of a Māori iwi , membership is determined by genealogical descent; a hapū is made up of a number of whānau groups. Generally hapū range in size from 150-200 although there is no upper limit...
.
Early history
Apanui Ringamutu is the founding ancestor of the iwi. He was descended from Tama-te-kapuaTama-te-kapua
In Māori tradition Tama-te-kapua was the captain of the Te Arawa canoe which came to New Zealand from Polynesia in about 1350. The reason for his leaving his homeland was the theft by his brother Whakaturia and himself of breadfruit from a tree belonging to a chief named Uenuku. The Te Arawa canoe...
of the Arawa canoe
Maori migration canoes
Various Māori traditions recount how their ancestors set out from their homeland in great ocean-going canoes . Some of these traditions name a mythical homeland called Hawaiki....
, and the Ngāriki people of the Tauira
Tauira
In Māori tradition, Tauira was one of the great ocean-going, voyaging canoes that was used in the migrations that settled New Zealand. Tauira was captained by Mōtataumaitawhiti and landed at Te Kaha in the eastern Bay of Plenty. Panenehu and Te Whānau-a-Apanui iwi trace their ancestry back to Tauira....
canoe.
During the 17th century, Apanui acquired vast amounts of land along the East Coast of the North Island. Through familial connection, he acquired land from Ngāti Porou
Ngati Porou
Ngāti Porou is a Māori iwi traditionally located in the East Cape and Gisborne regions of the North Island of New Zealand. Ngāti Porou has the second-largest affiliation of any iwi in New Zealand, with 71,910 registered members in 2006...
and Ngāriki. He was given land extending from Pōtikirua to Puketapu, and from Taumata-ō-Apanui to the Mōtū River; the land in between was later won through conquest.
European contact
Relations with Europeans were not generally hostile. Early European settlers showed little interest in the isolated region, which lacked deep-water harbours for shipping. However, visiting Europeans taught Te Whānau-ā-Apanui the skills of whalingWhaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
and commercial agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. Both areas become major economic industries for the iwi in the early 20th century, and profits were directed into community development projects.
Modern history
During the 1980s, the iwi experienced economic decline with the loss of major transport services, privitisation of state assets and the eventual economic unfeasibility of its small-scale farming operations. This resulted in some emigration of iwi members from traditional tribal homelands.Artists belonging to Te Whānau-ā-Apanui include Pineamine Taiapa, one of the foremost practitioners of traditional Māori carving; acclaimed artist Cliff Whiting
Cliff Whiting
Dr Cliff Whiting, ONZ is a New Zealand Maori artist, heritage advocate and teacher. Whiting was born and raised in Te Kaha, New Zealand and is a member of the Te Whānau-ā-Apanui tribe.-Career:...
; and his son, artist and restoration expert Dean; actor and director Taika Waititi
Taika Waititi
Taika Waititi , also known as Taika Cohen, is a New Zealand-born film director, writer, painter, comedian and actor named as one of Varietys "ten new directors to watch" in 2007....
; and educator and actor Wiremu Karuwha Tawhai .
Te Whānau-ā-Apanui today
Presently, the iwi is represented by Te Rūnanga o te Whānau, which is involved in social services and local economic development. The Rūnanga successfully manages a fisheries operation and invests in the development of local forestryForestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and other industries. In particular, the Cyberwaka rural community project provides information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
training.