Named after Torerenuiārua, the sister of Hoturoa who was left behind in the Hawaiian Islands, this significant story weaves together lineage, foresight, and connection to the land. Torerenuiārua was the firstborn child of Hoturoa and Whakaotirangi, the Upoko Āriki (chief leader) of the Tainui waka. Her vision and foresight were instrumental in shaping the future of her people.
“Ka whoatu a Manaakiao i te mana o te rangatira ki a Torerenuiārua, ka whāngai o runga, ka whāngai o raro ka puta ko Tainui, nā Tainui ko Tairoa, nā Tairoa ko Tai-manawapohatu, nā Tai-manawapohatu ko Tai! Ko Ngāi Tai e tau nei!”
Long before reaching Aotearoa, Torerenuiārua had foreseen the land she would one day settle. This prophetic insight guided her request to her father, Hoturoa, to land in the area now known as Torere. Her decision was deeply connected to her recognition of the ties between her people and the descendants of Te Tini o Toi, particularly Manaakiao, who held Mana Whenua in the area. This meeting of genealogies and acknowledgment of local authority was crucial in establishing their presence in the region.
In recognition of Torerenuiārua’s vision and her significance, Hoturoa presented her with a sacred piece of the kei (stern of boat) of the Tainui waka. This taonga remains a powerful symbol of connection and heritage, depicted in the amo (carved posts) of the wharenui (meeting house) of her residing uri whakaheke (decedents). The gift also carries the enduring whakatauāki (proverb) of Hoturoa:
"Hei taurahere ki te waka, hei pouhere ki te whenua”
"A binding cord to the canoe, a tethering post to the land”
Whakatauāki of Hoturoa
This proverb encapsulates the enduring ties between the Tainui waka and the whenua (land), serving as a guiding principle for the people of Torere and their whakapapa. The story of Torerenuiārua is thus not only a tale of ancestral foresight but also a testament to the enduring connections between land, lineage, and identity.
A legacy of survival and sustenance was also embedded in the gift from Whakaotirangi to her daughter, Torerenuiārua. Whakaotirangi entrusted her with purapura kumara (kumara seedlings) and taro, ensuring that her descendants, her uri whakaheke, would have the means to sustain themselves for generations. This act of foresight and provision underscored the deep connection between whakapapa, the land, and the resources it offers.
Ngāi Tai Iwi Authority
The Ngaitai Iwi Authority was originally established under a Trust Deed on the 3rd of October 1988 ("the original Trust Deed").
As a result of a hui at Torere Marae on the 26th of November 1987, the iwi of Ngāi Tai agreed to establish a body to operate under the mana of the iwi to advance the wellbeing of the iwi, socially, economically and culturally, which includes the scope for historical Treaty settlement negotiations with the Crown.
Registered as a Charitable Trust in October 1988 and then registered with the Charities Commission in 2008 and re-registered again in 2023, Ngaitai Iwi Authority is administered by the Board of Trustees who are accountable to Ngai Tai Iwi. There are seven Trustees on the Board. The Board exercises strategic Governance over the Ngaitai lwi Authority and its asset holding companies and subsidiaries.
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