A history of Ngāti Pūkenga

Abstract

The iwi of Ngati Pukenga are often perceived as mere hapu of various other iwi. This thesis is an attempt to correct misrepresentations of Ngati Pukenga as anything other than an iwi in their own right. It traces the history of Ngati Pukenga from their arrival in Aotearoa to the present day, showing that until comparatively recently their distinct iwi status was widely accepted and acknowledged. It suggests that the inaccuracies that have grown up around the status of Ngati Pukenga have been the result of a number of factors. First, writers have not paid much attention to the iwi as it has not been their primary focus. Second, Ngati Pukenga's willingness to assist other iwi in battle has resulted in a reduction in their numbers as well as awards of land in a variety of locations. Thus relatively small sections of Ngati Pukenga now reside on blocks of land within the rohe of a number of large and well-known iwi. The assumption has been that they have been assimilated by those larger iwi. The essence of this thesis is that such assumptions are incorrect. Ngati Pukenga remains a distinct iwi with its own unique history and characteristics.