Te Whānau-ā-Apanui

Te Whānau-ā-Apanui is a Māori iwi (Iwi is the Māori word for tribe) located in the eastern Bay of Plenty and East Coast regions of New Zealand's North Island. In 2006, the iwi registered 11,808 members, representing 13 hapū. During the 17th century, Apanui acquired vast amounts of land along the East Coast of the North Island. Through familial connection, he acquired land from Ngāti Porou and Ngāriki. He was given land extending from Pōtikirua to Puketapu, and from Taumata-ō-Apanui Hawai; the land in between was later won through conquest. Relations with Europeans were not generally hostile. Early European settlers showed little interest in the isolated region, which lacked deep-water harbours for shipping. However, visiting Europeans taught Te Whānau-ā-Apanui the skills of whaling and commercial agriculture. Both areas become major economic industries for the iwi in the early 20th century, and profits were directed into community development projects. During the 1980s, the iwi experienced economic decline with the loss of major transport services, privatization of state assets and the eventual economic unfeasibility of its small-scale farming operations. This resulted in some emigration of iwi members from traditional tribal homelands. There are three groups that have competed at The Matatini from Te Whānau a Apanui: Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau a Apanui (3x Champions 2005, 2015 and 2023), Tutawake and Tauira-mai-tawhiti. The iwi (tribe) consists of 13 hapū (sub-tribes). Each is associated with a marae (communal ground) and wharenui (meeting house).