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About us, the People of Rakaipaaka
 

Whakapapa/Genealogy
Rakaipaaka, the second child of Kahukura-nui and Tu-Teihonga, and therefore, through Kahukura-nui, his father, a grandson of the great Kahungunu, was a rangatira whose movements were to have an important bearing on the settlement of the Wairoa district.

The chief was born in Waerenga-a-hika, (known today as Ormond) unquote: a country district near the present Gisborne, and here he grew up, married, and raised a large family. His mana embraced a considerable area of country surrounding his pa and reaching to the Te Arai River. Hine-manuhiri, his sister, and her family also lived with Rakaipaaka. By his wife, Tu-rumakina, he had the following children.


From here he journeyed to Nuhaka, and followed up the Nuhaka River to make his new home on the great eminence, Moumoukai which mountain separates the Nuhaka and Morere valleys.

Rakaipaaka "Was a rangatira whose movements were to have an important bearing on the settlement of the Wairoa District."

Rakaipaaka's eventful life concluded when, in a ripe old age, he slipped off on the spirit journey to Te Reinga, mourned by a very large and powerful tribe of people who dominated the Nuhaka district. His name is commemorated today in the tribal name of the Nuhaka people, Ngati Rakaipaaka. Also memorialising this paramount chief is the bridge over the Nuhaka River on the Gisborne highway, which has been named the Rakaipaaka bridge.

Korero
COMING SOON

Background

Te Iwi o Rakaipaaka is comprised of a complex of descendants of the eponymous ancestor Rakaipaaka, of hapu, whanau, marae and bona fide institutions and organisations who are bonded by genealogy and historical relationships. The 'ahi kaa' or heartland of the Iwi is historically and culturally defined in terms of significant phenomena, events, sites and geographic features. The significant physical focus points of the Iwi are the Maunga Moumoukai, various sacred sites, the rivers Waitirohia and Nuhaka and their tributaries as well as the tipuna whare, Manutai and Hineahi, Kahungunu and Te Aroha o Kahungunu, Te Tahinga, Kotahitanga, Te Poho o TeRehu and Katea, Tamakahu and Hine Whakarua, Taane Nui A Rangi and Maata Parae.

The mana of the Iwi resides within its diverse constituent members and combines to form the prestige and ritual authority of Rakaipaaka.

Te Iwi o Rakaipaaka Incorporated Mission Statement

To retain the mana of Rakaipaaka by safe guarding and preserving 'nga taonga' (precious things) and by strengthening our pride, and our ability to define and determine our future as descendants of Rakaipaaka, by utilizing the opportunities that arise, where this may be achieved without compromising our tikanga, our values, and our aspirations.

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Iwi Development

The following is an outline of the strategic planning efforts of Te Iwi o Rakaipaaka Inc. See also the detailed projects section for more information on iwi development. Copies of the Te Iwi o Rakaipaaka Inc. are available by contacting our office.

Te Mana Kokiri / Terms of Reference

Following a Hui-a-Iwi, Te Iwi o Rakaipaaka Incorporated (TIORI) was formally established and legally constituted as an incorporated society in 1996. TIORI was mandated with the role of developing and supporting Rakaipaaka Iwi development. Rakaipaaka Iwi development relates to the strengthening, nurturing, protection and promotion of Rakaipaaka cultural, social and economic wellbeing. It encompasses whanau development and focuses strongly on the protection, retention and preservation of our taonga, our history, our landmarks and our natural resources and environment. This includes all other aspects and issues that may be of concern to Rakaipaaka constituents.

Consistent with TIORI's Constitution, TIORI was mandated to carry out the following:

To provide a platform for research, identification, restoration, development and retention of Iwi taonga; in particular whakapapa, te reo, korero, tikanga, kawa, waiata, art and craft forms and historic sites and artifacts.

• To provide a repository and information base for elements of cultural value.

• To provide protection for Iwi taonga.

• To provide a forum for strategic planning for social and economic issues of common concern.

• To facilitate consensus among Iwi constituents on issues of common concern.

• To act as an advocate for the Iwi constituents when requested.

• To act as a vessel for action in social and economic development of Iwi and Iwi constituents.

• To plan and implement programs that strengthen Iwi kinship ties.

• To transfer to the Iwi and constituents enlightened skills in organizational and asset management.

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Vision

Rakaipakatanga!
Wairuatanga!
Whakapumautia!
Whakawhanuitia!
Whakapuawaitia!

"Ko te tino hiahia o tatau kia hoki ano ki nga taumata o te hiahia, kia pumau ki to tatau nei noho ki runga i te mata o tenei whenua. Ma te whakawhanaungatanga ka whakawhanui te aroha atu ki a tatau ano. Ma tena ano, ka whakapumau ki nga tikanga, nga korero purakau, nga taonga katoa o ratau ma. Ko te putake nui, kia pai te noho o nga mokopuna i nga tau ki mua ra. Ara, kia puawai ai wa tatau tumanako, hiahia, wawata. Ko te mutunga kore, kia totika ano te noho o Ngati Rakaipaaka - na te ihi, te wehi, te mana, te tapu, te mauri o ratau ma, o tatau ma ka tau ki uta."

The vision is a statement of both the future state we intend to achieve and the fundamental principles we will use to achieve it. It covers (amongst other things) our desire to ensure that our Rakaipaakatanga is nurtured and strengthened, is inclusive of all our whanau and results in benefits for our people. The vision also reflects the fact that all the work of Te Iwi o Rakaipaaka Inc. and the streams of activity that it represents, mandates or umbrellas provides the basis of a unified approach for us to progress towards our vision. The "bigger picture" for us is the continuing development of our own Ngati Rakaipaaka identity, expressed as we think fit and in the forms we think appropriate.

Goals

• Goal 1: To confirm Rakaipakatanga as the basis for our overall development.

• Goal 2: To firmly establish and develop Te Iwi o Rakaipaaka Incorporated as a fully functional and highly effective Iwi development organisation.

• Goal 3: To be an Iwi provider of services aimed at improving the cultural, social and economic wellbeing of our people.