Rangitaane

Rangitaane
Iwi	Rangitaane
Waka	Āotea, Tainui, Tokomaru, Kurahaupō
Rohe	Manawatū-Whanganui, Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, Tararua District

Rangitaane

Introduction

Rangitaane is an indigenous Māori iwi associated with regions of Manawatū-Whanganui, Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, and the Tararua District. The iwi maintains links to ancestral waka such as Āotea (canoe), Tainui (canoe), and Kurahaupō (canoe) and engages with contemporary structures including Waitangi Tribunal, Te Puni Kōkiri, and iwi authorities across Aotearoa. Rangitaane participate in regional initiatives involving entities like Horizons Regional Council, Massey University, Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation Society, and national bodies such as New Zealand Parliament.

History and Origins

Rangitaane trace ancestry through connections to chiefs and lineages cited alongside figures and places like Rangiātea, Toi, Kupe, Tāwhaki, and migrations linked to waka including Tokomaru (canoe), Kurahaupō (canoe), and Āotea (canoe). Early history intersects with neighbouring iwi such as Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Toa, and Ngāi Tahu through alliances, conflicts, and intermarriage. Colonial-era events involving New Zealand Company, Land Wars, Taranaki Wars, and legislation like the New Zealand Settlements Act 1863 affected Rangitaane landholding and social structure. Later 20th-century developments saw Rangitaane engage with institutions such as the Waitangi Tribunal, Te Arawhiti, and Minister of Māori Affairs for redress and settlements.

Culture and Traditions

Rangitaane cultural practice shares whakapapa links with tikanga expressed at sites including Moutoa Gardens, Manawatū River, and coastal areas adjacent to Hawke Bay. Ceremonies draw upon ancestral narratives referencing figures like Tānenuiarangi, Māui, and Papatūānuku, and utilise taonga such as kōwhaiwhai, taiaha, and pounamu in customary contexts. Cultural revitalisation projects connect Rangitaane with organisations including New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, Toi Māori Aotearoa, Te Māngai Pāho, and educational providers like Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University to support kapa haka, carvings, and waiata.

Language and Dialects

The Rangitaane rohe is part of the broader te reo Māori linguistic area with dialectal affinities to Raukawa dialects, Ngāti Kahungunu dialects, and Southern Māori dialects in adjacent regions. Language revitalisation efforts involve partnerships with Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, Kohanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Māori, and tertiary providers such as Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University. Initiatives employ resources developed by organisations including Te Māngai Pāho, Te Puni Kōkiri, and community entities to support koorero, waiata, and reo classes across tribal marae and urban centres like Palmerston North, Masterton, and Hastings.

Marae, Hapū, and Iwi Structure

Rangitaane social organisation comprises hapū and marae located in places such as Palmerston North, Feilding, Bunnythorpe, Woodville, Dannevirke, and Woodville environs, with marae serving as focal points for hapū activity and engagement with agencies like Manawatū District Council, Tararua District Council, and Hawke's Bay Regional Council. Hapū networks interact with other iwi structures including Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, and Te Arawa confederations for ceremony, resource management, and treaty settlements. Governance mechanisms often mirror models used by iwi authorities such as Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Whatua to liaise with Crown entities like Crown Law Office and Crown research partners including Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research.

Land, Claims, and Contemporary Issues

Rangitaane have engaged in Treaty of Waitangi claims and settlements processes through the Waitangi Tribunal and negotiations with the Crown, resulting in historical reports, negotiated redress, and settlements similar in process to those of Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa, and Ngāi Tahu. Key issues include management of river catchments such as the Manawatū River, regional environmental planning involving Horizons Regional Council, freshwater reforms led by Ministry for the Environment, co-governance models akin to arrangements for Whanganui River and Waikato River Authority, and economic development via partnerships with entities like Massey University, Fonterra, and regional iwi enterprises. Contemporary priorities also address health and social outcomes with agencies including Te Whatu Ora, Oranga Tamariki, and mental health providers operating in urban centres such as Palmerston North and Palmy.

Notable Rangitāne People

Prominent Rangitaane figures appear in areas of politics, arts, sports, and academia, interacting with national institutions like New Zealand Parliament, Te Māngai Pāho, All Blacks, and universities such as Massey University and Victoria University of Wellington. Notable individuals have collaborated with organisations including Te Papa Tongarewa, Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, New Zealand Historic Places Trust, and national awards such as the New Zealand Order of Merit and Arts Foundation of New Zealand. Examples include leaders, artists, academics, and sportspeople who have contributed to iwi and national life through roles in iwi trusts, university faculties, cultural festivals like Te Matatini, and governance bodies.

Category:Iwi