Te Arawa

Te Arawa is a confederation of Māori iwi and hapū (tribes and sub-tribes) of New Zealand who trace their ancestry to the Arawa migration canoe (waka).^[1] The tribes are based in the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty areas and have a population of around 60,117 according to the 2018 census, making the confederation the sixth biggest iwi in New Zealand.^[2] The Te Arawa iwi comprises 56 hapū (sub-tribes) and 31 marae (family groupings).^[3]

Te Arawa iwi are descended from people who migrated to New Zealand on the Arawa canoe. They settled in the Bay of Plenty region, principally around the Rotorua lakes.^[1] Three main subtribes developed: Ngāti Pikiao occupied the eastern end of Lake Rotoiti and the area around Lake Rotoehu and Lake Rotomā; Tūhourangi occupied the upper Kaituna River, western Lake Rotoiti and the south-east side of Lake Rotorua including Ōhinemutu; Ngāti Whakaue, formerly known as Te Uri o Uenukukōpako, occupied Mokoia Island and the north-west side of Lake Rotorua.^[4]

Many Te Arawa men fought for the colonial government in the New Zealand Wars that took place in the North Island in the mid-19th century. Perhaps in part, for this reason, the iwi chose to negotiate directly with the New Zealand Government over their historical grievances, bypassing the Waitangi Tribunal. A series of negotiations has resulted in several settlements of their various claims, the largest of which involve the settlement relating to the 14 lakes, signed in December 2004,^[5] and the settlement for all the historical claims of a cluster of Te Arawa iwi and hapu signed on 30 September 2006. The Government apologised to Te Arawa for breaches of the Treaty and paid $36 million in compensation, including up to 500 km² of Crown forest land, as well as 19 areas of special significance, including the Whakarewarewa Thermal Springs Reserve.^[6]

On 18 December 2015 Te Arawa gained the right to vote in committee meetings of the Rotorua Lakes Council via an iwi partnership board, Te Tatau o Te Arawa.^[7]

Te Arawa FM is the radio station of Te Arawa iwi, including Ngāti Pikiao, Tūhourangi and Ngāti Whakaue. It was established in the early 1980s and became a charitable entity in November 1990.^[8] The station underwent a major transformation in 1993, becoming Whanau FM.^[9] One of the station's frequencies 99.1 was taken over by Mai FM in 1998; the other became Pumanawa 89FM before later reverting to Te Arawa FM.^[10] It is available on 88.7 FM in Rotorua the 99.1 frequency is now broadcasting commercial station The Heat 991 FM which started broadcasting 15 April 2015.^[11]

The iwi and hapu that constitute Te Arawa include:

Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Rangiteaorere, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Mākino, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Tapuika, Waitaha, Ngāti Ngararanui, Ngāti Rongomai, Ngāti Tahu – Ngāti Whaoa, Ngāti Tarāwhai, Ngāti Te Roro o Te Rangi, Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara, Ngāti Tura-Ngāti Te Ngakau, Ngāti Uenukukōpako, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Hei, Ngāti Huarere and Ngāti Wāhiao.^{[citation needed]}

• Te Arawa website