In 1983, in preparation for the Voyage of Rediscovery, a young Nainoa Thompson was anxious to learn the stars of the southern hemisphere. Advised by noted scholar and elder John Rangihau, Nainoa made his way to Aurere, a rural area overlooking Tokerau Beach along Doubtless Bay. Unannounced, he arrived late on a rainy night at the doorstep of then bridge-builder, Hector Hekenukumai Ngāiwi Pūhipi Busby. The two spent the next year together keenly observing the night sky as Hector recounted stories of the tūpuna. That relationship would change history. With firm resolve, Hector told Nainoa:

"In this land, we still have our canoe buried. In this land, we still have our language and we trace our genealogies back to the canoes our ancestors arrived on. But we have lost our pride and the dignity of our traditions. If you are going to bring Hōkūleʻa here, that will help bring it back. Whatever you need to do, I am with you all the way."

On December 7, 1985, after years of training and anticipation, Hōkūleʻa made its way into the Bay of Islands escorted by the 80-man war canoe, Ngātokimatawhaorua. Several hundred members of the Tai Tokerau community lined Te Tii Beach to prepare for the pōwhiri, the rituals of encounter and greeting. The arrival of Hōkūleʻa proudly affirmed Polynesian ingenuity and effectively quieted the white academic critics. Inspired by the historic landfall, the revered Māori elder, Sir James Henare, made a series of declarations. He lauded the Hawaiians for arriving in the region by voyaging canoe just like the founding ancestors of the existing five tribes had done centuries earlier. Therefore, he declared that the Hōkūleʻa represented a “sixth tribe” of Te Tai Tokerau, which is the region that extends from West Auckland on the southern end, all the way to the tip of Te Rerenga Wairua in the far north.

Sir James then challenged Māori to follow suit with their own voyaging waka. This became a personal calling for Hector, which he pursued vigorously and fulfilled in grand form with the completion of the iconic Te Aurere canoe and its Pacific-wide voyages of over 30,000 nautical miles, encompassing Hawaiʻi, Nukuhiva, Tahiti, Rarotonga, and Rapa Nui.

Soon after the 1985 landfall, Sir James, Sir Graham Latimer, and other revered kaumātua affirmed a process initiated by Hector for the naming of the Hawaiian tribe. Ngāti Ruawāhia means “tribe of the star Arcturus” which is Hōkūleʻa in Hawaiian. Then in 1992, a Hawaiian poupou named “Māuipāmamao” was created by Hōnaunau carver William Puou and erected at Te Tii Marae, Waitangi as the first physical manifestation of the Sixth Tribe.

NGĀTI RUAWĀHIA is an extended family heritage that has been stewarded by two affiliated organizations since the 1985 landfall:

Throughout 2018, months before the New Zealand Parliament granted construction funds, some 25 Kamehameha Schools representatives of Ngāti Ruawāhia came to Aurere on three occasions to honor Hector, and to clean the interior and exterior of the unfinished whare wānanga of the proposed Kupe Waka Centre, Hector’s long anticipated dream. Private donations from Hawaiʻi provided humble construction services in preparation for a dedication ceremony that Ngāti Ruawāhia was invited to conduct. Hector named the house Whetū Mārama. He then signed a Declaration of Kinship with the ʻAha Moananuiākea Pacific Consortium which set the stage for cultural-educational collaborations, the refurbishing of Te Aurere, and plans for modest accommodations on land at Aurere which Hector envisioned for Ngāti Ruawāhia members visiting the Kupe Waka Centre. Finally, this partnership positions the Kaʻiwakīloumoku Hawaiian Cultural Center – where Hector was honored in special ceremonies – to serve as a “sister center” to the Kupe Waka Centre upon completion.

Ngāti Ruawāhia received special invitations to attend ceremonies at the historic carved meeting house, Te Whare Rūnanga, at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. On February 4, 2019, Hector was awarded the Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, a long overdue distinction that entitled him to be formally addressed as Sir Hekenukumai Pūhipi. This was in recognition of his navigation, voyaging, and canoe-building legacy of 35 years, which Sir Hek often pointed out, first began on that rainy night when Nainoa showed up at his doorstep at Aurere in 1983.

Three months after his knighting, Sir Hek’s sudden and untimely passing was a devastating blow for everyone. Ngāti Ruawāhia made the pilgrimage back to the Northland, this time to his marae at Pukepoto to grieve and reflect. While he is sorely missed, Hector’s departure has prompted many in the Pacific to step up and lead, and to proactively carry his legacy forward. This has certainly been the case for the proud members of the Sixth Tribe. In that spirit, it is with great honor that we celebrate our rich history, perpetuate our tribal heritage, and chart the course for the next generation of Ngāti Ruawāhia, te Iwi Tuaono o Te Tai Tokerau.

Ngāti Ruawāhia History

For a fuller historical narrative on the Sixth Tribe, please see the following link:

Ngāti Ruawāhia History and Vision for the Future

“Waitangi” – Mele

Below are links to an audio recording and lyrics.

Waitangi, MP4 audio file link

Waitangi, lyrics

Māuipāmamao

Māuipāmamao, the ancestral poupou for Ngāti Ruawāhia, was erected at Te Tii Marae in January 1992. Carved by William Puou of Hōnaunau, Kona, the poupou was created from ʻōhiʻa wood and erected alongside the carved pantheon of Tai Tokerau tribal ancestors. Lashed by Nainoa Thompson and dedicated by his father Myron “Pinky” Thompson along with representatives of Kamehameha Schools and the Polynesian Voyaging Society, the poupou Māuipāmamao – Māui that touches the farthest extremities – was the first physical manifestation of Ngāti Ruawāhia, the Sixth Tribe of Te Tai Tokerau. The poupou has gradually deteriorated over time outside of its endemic home environment, Hawaiʻi. Plans are now underway to carve a new poupou made from kauri wood belonging to Sir Hekenukumai Busby.

Enjoy a video series produced by Kaʻiwakīloumoku carver, Kumulāʻau Sing, about our proud Ngāti Ruawāhia heritage.

Episode 1: Becoming a Ngāti Ruawāhia Carver

Episode 2: Kaʻapupāoaamāuiakalana

Episode 3: Māuipāmamao Iki

Kupe Waka Centre