Story: Ngāi Tahu

Roadside Stories: Kaiapohia

Kaiapohia was the great (fortified settlement) of the Ngāi Tahu tribe, and a base from which the tribe spread out and came to dominate most of the South Island. But in a disastrous conflict with North Island tribe Ngāti Toa, most of the residents of Kaiapohia were killed and the settlement was abandoned. Today Ngāi Tahu are flourishing once again.

Listen to a Roadside Story about Kaiapohia. Roadside Stories is a series of audio guides to places around New Zealand.

Taonga puoro courtesy of Richard Nunns

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How to cite this page:

Te Maire Tau, 'Ngāi Tahu - Wars with Ngāti Toa', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/interactive/35346/roadside-stories-kaiapohia (accessed 30 April 2024)

Story by Te Maire Tau, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 Mar 2017