Te Ākitai Waiohua

Te Ākitai Waiohua are descended from Kiwi Tāmaki, the grandson of Huakaiwaka, himself the ancestor of the Waiohua iwi, who lived in Tāmaki (the Auckland isthmus).[1] The name Te Ākitai commemorates Kiwi Tāmaki's uncle Huatau, who, in the early 18th century, died at sea in the Manukau Harbour and whose body was dashed up (āki) by the sea (tai) on Puketutu Island.[2]

Kiwi Tāmaki was killed in battle with Te Taoū hapū (sub-tribe) of Ngāti Whātua in the mid-18th century. Ngāti Whātua settled in Tāmaki and the Waiohua retreated to Drury, Pokeno, Kirikiri/Papakura, Ramarama and other parts of South Auckland. In the 1780s Te Ākitai Waiohua re-established settlements at Wiri, Pūkaki and Otahuhu. In the 1820s Ngāpuhi of Northland acquired muskets and attacked Tāmaki, leading the local tribes to retreat to the Waikato. In 1835 the tribes returned and Te Ākitai Waiohua resettled at Pūkaki, Papakura, Red Hill (near Papakura) and Pokeno.[1]

Te Ākitai Waiohua became supporters of the Māori King Movement when it arose in the 1850s. By 1861 the chiefs of Te Ākitai Waiohua were Pepene Te Tihi, grandson of Kiwi Tāmaki, and his son Ihaka Wirihana Takaanini. They lived at Pūkaki, Mangere and Ramarama. Before the invasion of the Waikato by the colonial government, Ihaka Takaanini was accused of being a rebel. Tribal land at Mangere was confiscated and Pepene Te Tihi, Ihaka, his wife and three children were arrested. Pepene, Ihaka and two of the children died in custody in 1863–1864. The surviving child, Te Wirihana Takaanini, became the chief of Te Ākitai Waiohua.[1]

The iwi's principal marae is Pūkaki marae, which is in a rural area just south of the suburb of Mangere on the Waokauri Creek, an inlet of the Manukau Harbour.[3][4] They are also associated with Makaurau marae at Ihumatao, just south-west of Mangere.[5]

• List of Māori iwi

• Te Akitai