The History of Tapuwae

Tapuwae was the principal and the most outstanding ancestor of the Maori people of Te Wai-roa district, which is the Ngati-Kahungunu proper. It has been held and recognised down to the present day that any members of the Ngati-Kahungunu Tribe within the county of Te Wai-roa, who cannot trace themselves from Tapuwae are classed as commoners, and those tracing from the union of Tapuwae and Te Huki are classed as aristocrats. Tapuwae descended not only from high lines of aristocracy, but also from the chiefs of the canoes which migrated to New Zealand, as shown by the whakapapa herein attached.