The whakapapa unit from Ngāi Tahu were in Gisborne on Friday to help whānau learn more about their connections to the South Island iwi. 

Arapata Reuben, the manager of the whakapapa unit, said hosting the one-on-one sessions with those from Gisborne was a chance for people to learn more about where they came from. 

These sessions have evolved from the Whakapapa Roadshow the iwi used to do before Covid-19 restrictions. 

They had four roadshows in Australia and nine in the North Island over the five years prior to the pandemic, and the iwi was now working to reinvigorate the roadshows. 

“The roadshows were a great opportunity for whānau to come together and whanaungatanga amongst themselves,” Reuben said. 

When he started in 2005, there were about 80 registrations with the iwi each month; now it averaged around 100 a week and the iwi had more than 74,000 registered members. 

Their Treaty settlement in 1998 and the gradual creation of different programmes offered by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu had helped contribute to the increase in those registering their whakapapa with the iwi, he said. 

However, there were always more out there who might not know or knew only a little bit about their Ngāi Tahu whakapapa. These sessions were a chance to figure that out. 

“People say it’s the foundation, but we are the doorway to opportunities,” Reuben said. 

Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Porou have a close connection through their history. 

Ngāi Tahu take their name from Tahupōtiki, a descendant of Paikea and a close relation of Porourangi, the ancestor from whom Ngāti Porou descend. 

Reuben said the one-on-one sessions were an opportunity for whānau to expand their knowledge and value of their Ngāi Tahu whakapapa. 

“Everyone is at different stages of their journey. Some start off knowing nothing at all, or others are wanting to make sure their whānau are registered as well.” 

Ten different whānau came to the sessions in Gisborne. 

They all received resource packs with information on whakapapa and different whakapapa lines. 

Whānau also get the pepeha for each individual marae and whakapapa manuscripts. 

Reuben said there have been people who have learned later on in life that they were of Ngāi Tahu whakapapa, and working with the whakapapa team helped them find themselves. 

Some whānau experiences of finding their whakapapa journey have been filmed. 

The iwi have also created a virtual portal for whānau to access the information wherever they are. 

“Many of those in the iwi won’t have the opportunity to visit the office and see the resources themselves, so making it available to them on a secure portal means we are helping get the information back into whānau homes.”