Why does Takapūwahia hold such significance for Ngāti Toa Rangatira? Takapūwahia, also known as Porirua Pa, stands as one of the oldest settlements in the Porirua basin. It is located on the western shore of Porirua Harbour. This land was once known as Te Urukahika.
In the 1850s, Takapūwahia thrived. Over 250 Māori people called this place home. As the Crown acquired more iwi land for Pakeha settlement, Ngāti Maunu extended an invitation. They were the senior hapū of Ngāti Toa. They invited the wider iwi to settle in Porirua. Families journeyed from Pukerua Bay and Taupo Pa. Taupo Pa is now known as Plimmerton.
The settlement shifted from Te Urukahika to its current location in 1889. Te Urukahika is now called Elsdon. Takapūwahia became the primary home for Ngāti Toa Rangatira. A school was erected next to the wharenui in 1910. The wharenui is a meeting house.
Takapūwahia Marae is located within the settlement. It serves as a tribal meeting ground for Ngāti Toa Rangatira. The marae features a wharenui named Toa Rangatira.
The name Takapūwahia carries historical weight. It is named after a place of the same name in Kāwhia. Kāwhia was the former home of Ngāti Toa.
Mana College is located close by. It is a co-educational state secondary school. It caters to Year 9 to 13 students. As of November 2024, the school has 500 students. Mana College was established in 1957.
Mahinawa Specialist School also lies nearby. It is a co-educational specialist school. It has a roll of 128 students.
Ngāti Toa traces its ancestry back to Toarangatira. They lived in the Kāwhia region until the 1820s. Conflict with other Tainui iwi forced them out. Pōtatau Te Wherowhero led the Tainui iwi. He later became the first Māori King.
Under the leadership of Te Rauparaha, Ngāti Toa migrated south. They invaded Taranaki and the Wellington regions. They were joined by Ngāti Rārura and Ngāti Koata. Three north Taranaki iwi also joined them. They were Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Tama, and Ngāti Mutunga. Together, they fought and conquered the people of Wellington. The people of Wellington were Ngāti Ira. Ngāti Ira practically ceased to exist as an independent iwi. After the 1820s, Ngāti Toa’s conquered region stretched far. It went from Miria-te-kakara at Rangitikei to Wellington. It also crossed Cook Strait to Wairau and Nelson.
The ancestors of Ngāti Toa arrived in New Zealand on the Tainui canoe. They resided in the Kāwhia region for many generations. This was until the early 19th century.
Tū-pāhau received a warning about an imminent attack. The attack was from Tāmure. Tāmure was a priest of Tainui. Tū-pāhau organized a defense and attack plan. He had only 300 warriors. Tāmure commanded an army of 2,000. Tū-pāhau and his followers won the battle. Tū-pāhau spared Tāmure’s life. Tāmure responded with praise. He said, “Tēnā koe Tū-pāhau, te toa rangatira!” This translates to “Hail Tū-pāhau the chivalrous warrior!” From that day forward, Tū-pāhau’s tribe became known as Ngāti Toarangatira.
Later, Tū-pāhau’s son and daughter-in-law had a child. They named him Toarangatira. This commemorated the event and the peace between Tāmure and Tū-pāhau. Toarangatira took the senior leadership role. This was due to his leadership and warfare skills. Ngāti Toa trace their descent from Toarangatira.
From the late 18th century, Ngāti Toa warred with the Waikato–Maniapoto tribes. This was for control of the fertile land north of Kāwhia. The conflicts intensified. The wars peaked with the battle of Hingakaka. Ngāti Toa and their allies were routed. This forced Ngāti Toa to migrate. They left their Kāwhia homeland. They went first to Taranaki. Then they moved to the Cook Strait region. Te Rauparaha led them in the 1820s. The migrations are called Heke mai raro. This means “migration from the north.”
The carved meeting-house Te Heke Mai Raro stands on Hongoeka Marae. It immortalizes this migration. Heke Tahutahuahi brought Ngāti Toa out of Kāwhia and into Taranaki in 1820. Ngāti Mutunga presented Ngāti Toa with Pukewhakamaru Pā. They also gave them cultivations nearby. Ngāti Toa stayed at Pukewhakamaru for 12 months. The Waikato–Maniapoto alliance followed them. Battles ensued.
Heke Tātaramoa commemorates the difficulties of Ngāti Toa’s second migration. They left Ōkokī around February–March 1822. They harvested crops for the journey. The heke included people from Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Mutunga and Te Āti Awa. They arrived in the Horowhenua–Kāpiti region. They settled first in Te Awamate. This is near the mouth of the Rangitīkei River. Then they moved to Te Wharangi. It is now Foxton Beach. Finally, they settled on Kapiti Island.
The marae connects ancestrally to the waka Tainui. It also connects to the maunga Whitireia. The moana Raukawa is also important. Takapūwahia stands as a testament to the resilience and history of Ngāti Toa.