Story: Muriwhenua tribes

Descendants of Te Houtaewa run down Ninety Mile Beach

Te Houtaewa was an important Te Aupōuri chief who once stole some kūmara (sweet potato) from Te Rarawa. In this video clip we see Houtaewa’s descendants running along the beach to return the kūmara and settle the debt of honour. This was an important symbolic prelude to the two tribes presenting a united front before the Waitangi Tribunal.

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TVNZ Television New Zealand
Reference: P51658

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How to cite this page:

Rāwiri Taonui, 'Muriwhenua tribes - Ancestors', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/432/descendants-of-te-houtaewa-run-down-ninety-mile-beach (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Rāwiri Taonui, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 22 Mar 2017