Muaūpoko Tribal Authority

Ko Kurahaupō te waka
Ko Tararua te maunga
Ko Punahau te roto
Ko Hokio te awa
Ko Kohuturoa rāua ko Kawiu ngā marae
Ko Punahau, Ngarue, Ngai Te Ao, Ngāti Tamarangi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Whanokirangi, Ngāti Pariri ngā Hapū
Ko Muaūpoko te Iwi
Whakahono, kia tu kaha Muaūpoko

Muaūpoko are the descendants of Tara, the eponymous ancestor of the Ngai Tara tribe, and a great, great grandson of Kupe of the Matahourua waka and a son of Whatonga of the Kurahaupō Waka. He and their descendants discovered, explored and named places throughout Aotearoa, and these remain on the land, coast and sea today, most notably Te Whanganui ā-Tara (Wellington).

Muaūpoko developed as a separate and unique iwi over time and established its own hapū, areas of occupation, use and access to resources from the western side of the Rimutaka and Tararua ranges to Te Whanganui ā-Tara (Wellington), Porirua, Kāpiti Coast, Horowhenua, Manawatū to Rangitīkei. One source for the origin of the tribal name Muaūpoko is derived from living at the head of the fish.

Muaūpoko has shared ancestry, history, occupation and alliances with Ngai Tara, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Ira, Rangitāne, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Apa and Whanganui Iwi within this area. In the 1820s through to the 1860s various iwi from Kawhia, Taranaki and the Maungatautari districts migrated, invaded and settled in these areas. This reduced the Muaūpoko population and the area of land directly under their direct influence. In the 1870s the Māori Land Court and the Crown confined Muaūpoko to Horowhenua. Today, the Muaūpoko iwi is principally located in the Taitoko (Levin) area.

The Muaūpoko Tribal Authority (MTA), based in Levin, was established in 1997 as an Incorporated Society to protect Muaūpoko identity, assets and to build a stronger economic, social and culture base for the Muaūpoko people. MTA has continued to support Muaūpoko iwi aspirations in all spheres of life.

MTA is recognised as the representative iwi organisation for Muaūpoko and provides a range of direct services including:

  • Leadership, advocacy and representation
  • Iwi, hapū, whānau and marae development
  • Iwi registration
  • Project management and administration
  • Treaty Settlements
  • Fisheries.

Marae

Kawiu: Kawiu Road, Levin.
Kohuturoa (Pariri): Hokio Beach Road, Levin.

Contact information

Di Rump
He Kura Hōkioi | Chief Executive Officer
PO Box 1080, Levin
Phone: 06 367 3311
Email: ceo@muaupoko.iwi.nz
Website: muaupoko.iwi.nz

Related Information

Back to top