Ngāti Kuia

Ngāti Kuia are the first people of Te Tauihu (the top of the South Island). We are the descendants of the explorers Māui, Kupe, and Matua Hautere.

It was Matua Hautere who followed the kōrero tuku iho (spoken story) of his tīpuna (ancestor) Kupe and was brought to this place by the kaitiaki (guardian) Kaikaiāwaro to settle in Te Hoiere (Pelorus). Kaikaiāwaro is also known by the settler community as Pelorus Jack.

Ngāti Kuia established a deep connection to this whenua (land), utilising its abundant resources with respect and care, guided by tikanga and kawa (customs and protocols). Our tīpuna explored, named and utilised hundreds of sites of significance in this rohe (region). These are referred to in our waiata (songs), whakataukī (proverbs), and pepeha (a form of introduction that establishes identity and heritage).

In the years leading to colonisation, Ngāti Kuia faced significant challenges, including raids by northern iwi (tribes) armed with muskets. Despite losing lives, we remained resilient, enduring in Te Hoiere and stewarding its rich natural resources. However, with the Crown's increasing presence in the mid-19th century, Ngāti Kuia were pressured into signing a Deed of Sale in 1856, which included the land where Havelock now stands. Though promised schools, hospitals, and sufficient land for future generations, these assurances were not upheld, leading to generations of struggle.

The injustice continued when Ngāti Kuia were excluded from the Nelson Tenths, a system meant to reserve one-tenth of land sold to settlers for Māori, ensuring future economic benefit. Despite being tangata whenua of the area, Ngāti Kuia were left out of these arrangements. Despite these setbacks, Ngāti Kuia remains steadfast. In 2010, we signed our deed of settlement with the Crown, recognising the historical grievances that remain a part of our collective story. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kuia was set up to manage the assets of Ngāti Kuia iwi.

Today, as tangata whenua (people of the land), we are dedicated to the land, our people, and the enduring legacy of our tīpuna, as we continue to seek justice and uphold the mana of our iwi. We have reinvigorated Te Hoiere, where our presence is felt through many initiatives that reconnect us with the whenua. Our environmental restoration efforts aim to preserve and restore the natural resources we’ve always cared for, ensuring future generations can benefit from the richness of this land. We are the kaitiaki of this whenua, just as our tīpuna intended, balancing progress with the wisdom of our past.

Kaikaiāwaro