Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri

In 1642, members of Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri made the first known contact between Europeans and Māori, when Dutch explorer Abel Tasman visited Golden Bay / Mohua.

The members of the Kurahaupō waka initially settled in the Bay of Plenty, and after several generations moved inland towards Taupō District and along the Whanganui River.

[2] Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri were the major force in the Tasman and Nelson regions for 200 years until the early 1810s,[2] often coming into conflict with Ngāi Tahu to the south, likely over rights to capture birds and eels.

However, unfavourable winds resulted in several canoes capsizing and the survivors were finished off by their enemies by the time they reached the shores of Kapiti Island.

This left Ngāti Tūmatakōkiri vulnerable to reprisal attacks from all three neighbouring tribes and their controlled land was gradually wrested from them.