Apanui Ringamutu's mother Rongomaihuatahi was descended from Porourangi of the Horouta canoe, who was a founder of Ngāti Porou. His father Tūrīrangi was a descendant of Tamatekapua of the Te Arawa canoe, and the Ngāriki people of the Tauira canoe. When Rongomaihuatahi took Apanui to meet his relatives at Ōmāio, they gave land to the boy. Because of his noble ancestry, the people in that area were named after him: Te Whānau-ā-Apanui. During the 17th century, Apanui acquired vast amounts of land along the East Coast of the North Island. Through familial connection, he acquired land from Ngāti Porou and Ngāriki. He was given land extending from Pōtikirua to Puketapu, and from Taumata-ō-Apanui Hawai; the land in between was later won through conquest.
Modern history
Relations with Europeans were not generally hostile. Early European settlers showed little interest in the isolated region, which lacked deep-water harbours for shipping. However, visiting Europeans taught Te Whānau-ā-Apanui the skills of whaling and commercial agriculture. Both areas become major economic industries for the iwi in the early 20th century, and profits were directed into community development projects. During the 1980s, the iwi experienced economic decline with the loss of major transport services, privatization of state assets and the eventual economic unfeasibility of its small-scale farming operations. This resulted in some emigration of iwi members from traditional tribal homelands.
Hapū and marae
The iwi consists of 13 hapū. Each is associated with a marae and wharenui. Ki
Te Whānau a Haraawaka, of Tunapahore marae and Haraawaka wharenui
Te Whānau a Hikarukutai, of Maraenui marae and Te Iwarau wharenui
Te Whānau a Kahurautao, of Pāhāōa and Kahurautao wharenui
Te Whānau a Kaiaio, of Maungaroa marae and Kaiaio wharenui
Te Whānau a Kauaetangohia, of Whangaparāōa marae and Kauaetangohia / Te Putahou wharenui
Te Whānau a Maruhaeremuri, of Wairūrū marae and Hinemahuru / Mihi Kotukutuko wharenui
Te Whānau a Nuku, of Ōmāio marae and Rongomaihuatahi wharenui
Te Whānau a Pararaki, of Te Maru o Hinemaka marae and Pararaki wharenui
Te Whānau a Rutaia, of Ōtūwhare marae and Te Poho o Rūtāia wharenui, and Rongohaere marae and Rongohaere wharenui
Te Whānau a Tapaeururangi, of Pōtaka marae and Te Ēhutu / Te Pae o Ngā Pakanga wharenui
Te Whānau a Te Ēhutu, of Te Kaha marae and Tūkākī wharenui
Te Whānau a Toihau / Hiinetekahu, of Waiōrore marae and Toihau wharenui
Te Whānau a Tutawake, of Whitianga marae and Tūtawake wharenui
Te Rūnanga o te Whānau represents Te Whānau a Apanui during resource consent applications under the Resource Management Act, but forwards each application on to the directly affected hapū. It is based on Te Kaha, and governed by representatives from at least ten hapū. The charitable trust is involved in social services and local economic development. It manages a fisheries operation, and invests in the development of local forestry and other industries. Its Cyberwaka rural community project provides information technology training.
Pan-tribal iwi station Sea 92FM broadcasts to members of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Te Whakatōhea and Ngāitai in the Ōpōtiki area. It is operated by pan-tribal service provider Whakaatu Whanaunga Trust, and is available on. It operates the low-power Opotiki 88.1 FM, geared towards a young demographic.
