Māori Culture in Hastings
Heretaunga and its marae, Ngā Pou o Heretaunga, Te Mata, the Ātea a Rangi star compass and Ngāti Kahungunu.
Hastings is the heart of Heretaunga, the plains of Ngāti Kahungunu, with marae from Waipatu and Omāhu to Bridge Pā, Pakipaki and Waimārama. Here’s where to experience Māori culture in Hastings: Ngā Pou o Heretaunga, Te Mata, the star compass Ātea a Rangi, marae, the iwi and hapū, and te reo.
Heretaunga and Te Mata
Heretaunga is the Māori name for the Hastings plains and one of the taiwhenua of Ngāti Kahungunu. Hawke’s Bay is Te Matau-a-Māui, the fish-hook of Māui.
Heretaunga
The plains around Hastings and the taiwhenua of Ngāti Kahungunu here, with 18 marae remembered in Ngā Pou o Heretaunga.
Te Mata
Te Mata o Rongokako, the sleeping giant. Te Mata Park Trust says the maunga has many names and many stories.
Ātea a Rangi
The star compass at Waitangi Regional Park, built to pass on whakatere waka, traditional navigation.
Ways to experience Māori culture in Hastings
Read the stories of the marae at Ngā Pou o Heretaunga, walk Te Mata, visit the star compass, or join a guided tour with a Ngāti Kahungunu storyteller. Check with each operator for dates and prices.
Tour and museum
Te Matau-a-Māui Napier Māori History Tour
Guided by a local Māori host, with the whakapapa of Ngāti Kahungunu and visits to Ōtātara Pā, Ngā Pou o Heretaunga and Te Mata Peak. Includes about 1 km of walking up a hill to the pā. Adults $260.82.
Find out moreKahukura Hawke’s Bay Museum
The region’s museum, sharing the stories of Te Matau-a-Māui, with free entry to exhibitions.
Plan your visitAt your own pace
Ngā Pou o Heretaunga
Each pou is carved from ancient tōtara and represents an ancestor from one of 18 marae in Heretaunga, with an information board on each marae’s whakapapa. A 19th pou, gifted by Rarotonga, was added in 2017.
Read our guideTe Mata
Te Mata o Rongokako, the sleeping giant above the plains. Te Mata Park Trust says each iwi and hapū tells its own story of Te Mata, and all are respected equally. Treat the maunga with care.
Read our guideĀtea a Rangi, Waitangi Regional Park
A star compass built so that whakatere waka, traditional navigation, is passed on to new generations.
Read our guideMāori events through the year
Waitangi Day
A public holiday. In 2027 it falls on a Saturday and is observed on Monday 8 February for those who don’t usually work Saturdays. Check local listings for commemorations in Heretaunga.
Matariki public holiday
Matariki falls on Friday 25 June in 2027.
Marae of Heretaunga
Marae are the gathering places of hapū and iwi. They are not visitor attractions: you visit a marae when you’re invited, or by arrangement with the marae, often with a group, a school or an event. Each marae has its own kawa (protocol), so ask your hosts what they expect.
Waipatu
A marae of Ngāti Hinemoa, Ngāti Hōri and other hapū, with the wharenui Heretaunga.
Read our guideHoungarea
A marae of Ngāti Ngarengare, Ngāti Papatuamāro and other hapū, with the wharenui Houngarea.
Read our guideWaimārama
A marae of Ngāti Hikatoa, Ngāti Kurukuru and other hapū, with the wharenui Taupunga.
Te Kāhui MāngaiKahurānaki
A marae of Ngāi Te Rangikoianake and other hapū, with the wharenui Kahurānaki.
Te Kāhui MāngaiTe Kāhui Māngai lists more marae of Heretaunga and nearby:
- Mangaroa, Bridge Pā (Hikawera II)
- Mihiroa, Pakipaki (Mihiroa)
- Taraia, Pakipaki (Taraia)
- Ruahāpia (Karaitiana Takamoana)
- Matahiwi, Clive (Te Matau a Māui)
- Kohupātiki, Clive (Tanenuiarangi)
- Te Aroha, Pukehamoamoa (Te Aroha)
How a welcome usually goes
- GatherThe visitors gather together outside the marae before the welcome begins. Don’t walk on until you’re called.
- KarangaA woman from the hosts calls you on, and a kaikaranga (caller) from your group answers. Walk on together as the calling continues.
- Whaikōrero and waiataSpeeches from hosts and visitors, each followed by a song.
- KohaA gift, usually money in an envelope, laid down by your last speaker.
- Hongi and harirūShake hands and press noses with the hosts.
- KaiA shared meal ends the welcome and lifts the tapu of the pōwhiri.
Ngāti Kahungunu and the hapū of Heretaunga
In their own words, Ngāti Kahungunu has the third-largest iwi population and the second largest tribal rohe in the country, from the Wharerata Ranges in the Wairoa District to the Remutaka Range in South Wairarapa. The iwi’s organisation is based in Hastings.
Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated
The iwi’s organisation, representing the people of Ngāti Kahungunu.
Their storyHeretaunga Tamatea
Their deed of settlement with the Crown was signed on 26 September 2015, and the settlement Act passed in 2018.
Te Kāhui MāngaiTe Taiwhenua o Heretaunga
Health and whānau services for tamariki, rangatahi, pakeke and kaumātua.
Find out moreMāori history and stories
Ngā Pou o Heretaunga tell the whakapapa of 18 marae and their ancestors, and Te Mata carries the many stories of the hapū who see it from different sides.
Māori History in Hastings
Hastings’ Māori history, from the marae of the plains to the iwi today.
Read the historyLearning te reo Māori in Hastings
Te reo Māori learning for adults. Check each provider for the latest dates.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
Classroom te reo at Level 1 and Level 3 with no fees, plus online Te Ara Reo Māori courses with no fees.
Find out moreKōhanga reo
Kōhanga reo are Māori-language early learning centres. The Ministry of Education directory lists 29 in Hastings District. Find one on the Kōhanga Reo National Trust map.
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Taniwhā Tūmeke (Raureka)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Puawaitanga o Te Pito Mata (Raureka)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Wānanga Whare Tāpere o Tākitimu (Waipatu)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Waipatu (Waipatu)
- Te Kōhanga Reo O Tika Tonu (Parkvale)
- Te Kōhanga Reo O Heretaunga (Camberley)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Moteo (Puketapu)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Whakatū (Whakatu)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Waimarama (Waimārama)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Poukawa ki Kahuranaki (Te Hauke)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Reo Aroha (Mayfair)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Amorangi Hāpai o Rongokako (Mayfair)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Kūpenga a Te Huki (Pakipaki)
- Te Kōhanga reo o Mangaroa (Bridge Pā)
- Ngā Oho Mata Kamo Kamo Te Kōhanga Reo o Korongata (Bridge Pā)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Pūnanga Te Wao (Hastings)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Ūpokoiri ki Ōmahu (Omāhu)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Waiohiki (Waiohiki)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Turi Pai Whenua (Havelock North)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Manawanui ki Kimiora (Flaxmere)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Tauparanui Ki Heretaunga (Flaxmere)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Awatea Hou (Flaxmere)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Ao Te Rangi (Flaxmere)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Whanake te Kura (Flaxmere)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Kōwhai (Flaxmere)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngā Pāharakeke (Flaxmere)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Awa o Te Atua (Flaxmere)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Kahu o Te Rangi (Flaxmere)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Rēwai (Flaxmere)
Schools that teach in te reo Māori
TKKM o Te Wananga Whare Tapere o Takitimu
Kura kaupapa Māori, composite school. All students taught in te reo Māori.
Read our school guideTKKM o Ngati Kahungunu Ki Heretaunga
Kura kaupapa Māori, composite school. All students taught in te reo Māori.
Te Kura o Pakipaki
Full primary. The Ministry directory lists all students as taught in te reo Māori.
Māori community services
About this page
Explore Hastings is an independent local guide. This page draws on Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated, Te Kāhui Māngai, Hastings District Council, Te Mata Park Trust, the Ātea a Rangi trust, the Ministry of Education and the operators’ own sites. Spotted something to add or correct? Let us know.
Frequently Asked Questions
What iwi is Hastings?
Hastings is in the rohe of Ngāti Kahungunu, in the taiwhenua of Heretaunga. Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated is based in Hastings.
What does Heretaunga mean?
Heretaunga is the Māori name for the Hastings plains and the taiwhenua of Ngāti Kahungunu here.
What is Ngā Pou o Heretaunga?
Carved tōtara pou in Hastings’ Civic Square, each representing an ancestor from one of 18 marae in Heretaunga. A 19th pou from Rarotonga was added in 2017.
What is the legend of Te Mata Peak?
Te Mata o Rongokako is the sleeping giant. Te Mata Park Trust says each iwi and hapū tells its own story of Te Mata, and all are respected equally.
Has Ngāti Kahungunu settled?
Settlements are made by hapū groups. Heretaunga Tamatea signed their deed of settlement in 2015, and their settlement Act passed in 2018.
Where is the Ngāti Kahungunu territory?
In their own words, from the Wharerata Ranges in the Wairoa District to the Remutaka Range in South Wairarapa.
Can you visit a marae in Hastings?
Only by invitation or arrangement, often with a group, a school or an event.
Where can I learn te reo Māori in Hastings?
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa teaches classroom te reo with no fees at its Heretaunga Campus on Hastings Street South, and online.