We welcome you to register as a member of Ngāti Te Whiti Hapū Society Incorporated.
As a member you’ll stay connected with pānui, hui and events, be able to vote and help shape our hapū for the future.
Ko Ngāti Te Whiti
Ngāti Te Whiti is the mana whenua hapū of Ngāmotu (New Plymouth).
Our hapū has a long and enduring connection to Ngāmotu, with generations of our tūpuna living, gathering kai and matintaining pā, kāinga and wāhi tapu throughout the rohe.
Our identity is shaped by our whakapapa, our whenua, our moana and the generations of whānau who have lived here before us.
Today, Ngāti Te Whiti continues to uphold and strengthen our connections to our people, our history and our rohe, while looking to the wellbeing of generations to come.
Our Rohe
Our Rohe extends from the Herekawe to the Waiwhakaiho River, inland to its headwaters on Taranaki and back to the Herekawe. We regard Ngāmotu (New Plymouth) as our tūrangawaewae – our paepae, our footstool, the land on which we alone might stand.
Our coastal boundary includes many former pā and wāhi tapu such as Waiwhakaiho, Purukau, Autere, Kerau, Waimanu, Te Kawau, Puke Ariki, Pukerangi, Rangipiko, Otaka, Moturoa, Paritutu, Onuku Taipari, Te Mahoe and many urupā.
One of our important coastal areas is Ngā Motu [the islands] and the surrounding waters. Ngā Motu was one of the first inhabited areas, and the islands and reefs were all named by Ngāti Te Whiti.
Our Whakapapa
Ngāti Te Whiti traces its descent from our eponymous ancestor, Te Whiti Tuatahi. Our hapū takes its lineage from the union of Te Whiti Tuatahi and Tarawhakauka, from whom generations of Ngāti Te Whiti whānau descend.
Our connection to Ngāmotu is deeply rooted in whakapapa and in generations of continuous occupation by our tūpuna. These connections extend to the earliest kinship groups of the Ngāmotu area, including Moturoa, Ngāmotu, Ngāti Tuparikino, Ngāti Hāmua and Ngāti Tawhirikura.
Together, these whakapapa relationships and the enduring presence of our tūpuna at Ngāmotu form the foundation of Ngāti Te Whiti as a hapū and our continuing connection to our rohe.
The history of Ngāti Te Whiti is carried through the kōrero of our tūpuna and continues to shape who we are today, our responsibilities as mana whenua, and the legacy we seek to protect and pass on to future generations.
The history of Ngāti Te Whiti is carried through the kōrero of our tūpuna and continues to shape who we are today, our responsibilities as mana whenua, and the legacy we seek to protect and pass on to future generations.
Our Hapū Today
Today, Ngāti Te Whiti is a vibrant and active hapū, continuing to strengthen the connections between our people, our whenua and our whakapapa.
Our whānau come together through hui, wānanga, cultural kaupapa and community events, creating opportunities to learn, share kōrero and maintain the tikanga and mātauranga handed down by our tūpuna.
As mana whenua of Ngāmotu, we also work to ensure the voice and interests of Ngāti Te Whiti are represented in matters affecting our rohe. Through this mahi, we seek to honour those who came before us while building a strong and connected hapū for the generations to come.
Our Board
Ngāti Te Whiti Hapū Society Incorporated is governed by a Board elected by our members. The Board supports the aspirations of the hapū, represents the interests of our members, and oversees the governance and activities of the Society.
Linda McCulloch
Chair
Tracey Harris
Treasurer
Josie Leckie
Secretary
Shane Cassidy
Board Member
Krisstal Healey
Board Member