Ngāi Tahu

Ngāi Tahu, or Kāi Tahu, is the principal Māori iwi (tribe) of the southern region of New Zealand, with the tribal authority, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, being based in Christchurch and Invercargill. The iwi combines three groups, Kāi Tahu itself, and Waitaha and Kāti Mamoe who lived in the South Island prior to the arrival of Kāi Tāhu. The five primary hapū of the three combined groups are Kāti Kurī, Ngāti Irakehu, Kāti Huirapa, Ngāi Tūāhuriri and Ngāi Te Ruakihikihi. Some people claim to be explicitly descended from one or both of Waitaha and Kāti Mamoe whānui, often in conjunction with Kāi Tahu. However, others argue that due to conflict and intermarriage these groups have been incorporated into Kāi Tahu, and are no longer distinct.

The iwi's takiwā (tribal area), the largest in New Zealand, extends from Kaikoura in the north to Stewart Island / Rakiura in the south, and includes the West Coast area, Tai Poutini. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu constitutes 18 rūnanga/rūnaka representing geographical areas, generally based around traditional settlements.

The Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act was passed in 1998 to record an apology from the Crown, and to settle claims made under the Treaty of Waitangi. One of the provisions made was the use of dual Māori and English names for geographical locations in its tribal area.