Ngāti Rehua o Te Moananui o Toi: Cobwebs of Colonisation

This thesis is an exploration of the history, tikanga and identity of Ngāti Rehua, from their origin to the present day. It documents key events, beliefs and tupuna, which form the threads of the sail that powers the waka of Ngāti Rehua. The complexities of Ngāti Rehua identity are explored, focusing on the essence of our life as an iwi; an innate and intentional connection with whenua and moana tupuna, as embodied through tikanga. The thesis also examines the holes and patches in this sail, delving into the destruction wrought by colonisation and the ongoing injustice faced by Ngāti Rehua. The thesis, thus, highlights the unbreakable wairua of Ngāti Rehua and their resilience in living as the tangata whenua within the islands of Te Moananui o Toi. The thesis journey begins appropriately with Ngāti Rehua tikanga, unveiling the ways in which the sacred and inseparable connection between tangata and taiao was maintained and respected. Through an in-depth exploration of tikanga, the essence of Ngāti Rehua is clearly revealed; the vital role of our relationships to moana and whenua in the contouring and shaping of Ngāti Rehua identity. Colonisation attempted to erase Te Ao Māori, ensuring that Aotearoa fell to the hands of the British Crown. This is seen through the experience of Ngāti Rehua, where tupuna whenua and moana, an essential element of our tikanga and identity, was stolen and misrepresented throughout the early colonial period. The effects of colonial contact continue into the present, as evidenced through our daily struggles as a people today. By unravelling, and critically examining, the history of Crown deception upon Ngāti Rehua whānau, hapū and iwi, this thesis tells their story, through the words of a descendent of Rehua himself, revealing how our people never ceded sovereignty to the British Crown. Rather, despite our more recent history, we have remained strong in the struggle against colonisation and ongoing colonialism. This thesis is a testament to the endurance of Ngāti Rehua’s wairua and mana, including the wairua and mana of ourselves, our tupuna, our whenua, our moana and our tikanga.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Māori Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

ResearchSpace@Auckland

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Klink, Kelly Moanna

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Hikuroa, Daniel
• Mutu, Margaret

• Ngāti Rehua
• History
• Tikanga
• Mātauranga Māori
• Ngātiwai ki Aotea
• Native Land Court
• Hauturu
• Pokohinu
• Whakapapa
• Rangatiratanga
• Mana
• Aotea

Statement dc:rights

• Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2292/74818

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchspace.auckland.ac.nz:2292/74818