The following resources are suggested as starters for researching Ngāi Tahu whakapapa. For a greater range of resources, head into Tūranga and check out the Ngā Rākau Teitei e Iwa—Ngāi Tahu collection.
For resources related to other iwi see our Whakapapa Guide.
You can also book an appointment with one of our Pou Kohikohinga Māori | Māori Collection Specialists for help in navigating the resources.
Whakapapa
These key texts are useful for tracing whakapapa lines and/or learning about specific whānau members or tūpuna.
Ngāi Tahu: A Migration History | The Carrington Text by Te Maire Tau and Atholl Anderson
Tāngata Ngāi Tahu: People of Ngāi Tahu by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
The Genealogy of Ngāi Tahu by Peter Garven
Ngaitahu Kaumatua Alive in 1848, as Established by the Maori Land Court in 1925 and the Ngaitahu Census Committee in 1929 by Ngāi Tahu Maori Trust Board (N.Z.)
Kōrero tuku iho
These texts focus more on the history of the iwi, including traditional narratives.
Ngā Pikituroa o Ngāi Tahu: The Oral Traditions of Ngāi Tahu by Te Maire Tau
I Whānau Au Ki Kaiapoi: The Story of Natanahira Waruwarutū as Recorded by Thomas Green
Te Waiatatanga Mai o Te Atua: South Island Traditions Recorded by Matiaha Tiramorehu
Traditional Lifeways of the Southern Māori by Herries Beattie
Rauemi Ipurangi | Online Resources
This is a resource located on our Christchurch City Libraries website that compiles very valuable information relating to local Māori history.
An online atlas of Māori place names relating to the South Island and the Ngāi Tahu rohe (area).
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and their Archive Team have made available online some of their archive and can be accessed at this site.
This is a selective index to the Ngāi Tahu Māori Trust Board Claim before the Waitangi Tribunal. The claim material is full of information on Events, tūpuna and locations. The index will guide you to the volumes you need. The actual volumes are found in the Ngā Rākau Teitei e Iwa—Ngāi Tahu Collection at Tūranga.
More resources about Ngāi Tahu
- Ngāi Tahu Whakapapa unit - Information about the work of the whakapapa unit and links to registering with the iwi.
- Find titles in our catalogue about Ngāi Tahu people
- Iwi -Tribal websites Lists websites for iwi organisations including Ngāi Tahu
- Ngā Rākau Teitei e Iwa—Ngāi Tahu collection, Waruwarutū, Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2, Tūranga
