Our History
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The origins of Rangitāne o Wairarapa go back many generations to the ancestor Rangitāne, a descendant of Whatonga, who arrived in Aotearoa on the ancestral waka Kurahaupō. Rangitāne and his descendants settled across the lower North Island, including the Wairarapa region, establishing pā, kāinga, and strong connections to the land and waterways. Over time, hapū such as Ngāti Hāmua direct descendants of Rangitāne, became established in the Wairarapa and were among the key groups connected to what would later become Te Ore Ore Marae.
The peoples of Rangitāne o Wairarapa and Ngāti Kahungunu have long shared the lands of Wairarapa through whakapapa, migration, and intermarriage. Descendants of the ancestor Kahungunu travelled south through the eastern North Island and settled among communities already established by Rangitāne. Over generations, marriages between Rangitāne and Kahungunu descendants created strong kinship ties and shared guardianship of the land and waterways. These relationships helped shape the identity of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, a collective reflecting both Kahungunu lineage and deep connections with Rangitāne. Today the iwi maintain close relationships, with many whānau carrying whakapapa to both, reflecting the long history of cooperation, shared ancestry, and guardianship of the Wairarapa region.
Ngā Tau E Waru
Te Ore Ore Marae, located in Whakaoriori (Masterton) in the Wairarapa, is a significant cultural and spiritual centre for Rangitāne o Wairarapa. The marae was established in the early 1880s under the leadership of the prophet Pāora Te Pōtangaroa, who received a prophetic vision in 1881 that guided the construction of the original wharenui, Ngā Tau e Waru. This meeting house became a symbol of unity, faith, and resilience for the people of Rangitāne. After the original building was destroyed by fire in 1939, the community rebuilt the whare, reopening it in 1941. Situated near the Ruamahanga River, Te Ore Ore Marae continues to serve as a gathering place for hui, tangihanga, celebrations, and the passing down of tikanga, whakapapa, and mātauranga Māori to future generations.
Ngāti Hamua
Whatonga was the captain of the Kurahaupō waka, who journeyed from Hawaiki to Aotearoa over 700 years ago. His descendants settled throughout the lower North Island. His son, Tara, was sent to explore further south and established himself in the great harbour now known as Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington), which carries his name.
From Whatonga came Rangitāne, his grandson the eponymous ancestor of the Rangitāne iwi. Over time, his descendants established themselves across the regions of Manawatū, Tararua, Wairarapa, and Wairau.
Four generations after Rangitāne, Te Hamua was born. He became a significant ancestor, and it is from him that Ngāti Hamua takes its name. Today, Ngāti Hamua is recognised as the paramount hapū of Rangitāne o Wairarapa, with its rohe centred in the Masterton district and extending north towards Pahiatua.
In essence, the story of Ngāti Hamua is the story of Rangitāne o Wairarapa — a whakapapa that connects our people to our tūpuna, our whenua, and future generations.
