Muaupoko

Title: Muaupoko Category: Manawatu Clicks: 4 Listing added: Aug 13, 2007 PageRank: 5/10

Muaupoko are the Maori people who traditionally occupy the lands on the west coast at the southern end of the North Island of New Zealand. Their name comes from mua (in front of) upoko (the head) of the fish of Maui, referring to the shape of the North Island which is similar to a fish with the mouth being Te Whanganui-a-Tara (the Wellington Harbour). Muaupoko are also called Ngai Tara after their eponymous (naming) ancestor Tara, who settled in Wellington with his parents Whatonga and Hotu-waipara in the later half of the twelfth century. Tara's wife named the area after him - Te Whanganui-a-Tara means 'the great harbour of Tara'.

State:	Manawatu
Country:	New Zealand
Postal:	P O Box 1080
Postal City:	Levin 5540
Email:	mta@muaupoko.iwi.nz