Ngāti Ranginui

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Ngāti Ranginui is a Māori iwi (tribe) in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand. Their traditional lands stretch from Waihi in the north, to the Kaimai Range in the west, to south of Te Puke, and along Tauranga in the east. Their area does not include Matakana Island or Mayor Island.

They are part of the Tauranga Moana iwi group, along with Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāi Te Rangi. The three iwi share Mauao (Mount Maunganui) as sacred and have many things in common. They are seeking compensation from the New Zealand Government for losses from the New Zealand Wars, but a settlement has not yet been reached.

Ranginui is the founding ancestor of the iwi. In Tauranga stories, Ranginui was the son of Tamatea-pokai-whenua from the Takitimu canoe, and the brother of Kahungunu (founder of Ngāti Kahungunu) and Whaene. He stayed in Tauranga along the Wairoa River, and his descendants formed Ngāti Ranginui.

In 1864, Tauranga Moana iwi fought Crown troops in Tauranga and won at Gate Pā, but thousands of hectares of land were confiscated. Ngāti Ranginui continues to seek redress from the government for losses in the 1860s, together with the other Tauranga Moana iwi.

Ngāti Ranginui Iwi Society Inc is the Tūhono organisation. It is an incorporated society governed by one representative from each of ten marae. As of 2016, the chair was Tawharangi Nuku and the chief executive was Stephanie O’Sullivan; the office is in Tauranga.

Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Ranginui Settlement Trust is a governance entity recognized after the Waitangi Treaty settlement in 2012. It is a common-law trust with eight trustees and an independent chair; as of 2016, the chair was Te Pio Kawe; based in Tauranga.

Ngāti Ranginui Fisheries Trust is the iwi’s fisheries and aquaculture body under the relevant acts. It is a charitable trust with seven trustees; as of 2016, the chair was Christopher Stokes; based in Tauranga.

The iwi has interests in the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, and Tauranga City Council.

Moana Radio is the radio station for Ngāti Ranginui and the Tauranga Moana iwi. It broadcasts on 1440 AM and 98.2 FM in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty area. It previously ran Tahi FM for youth from 2003 to 2011.