Māori Culture in New Plymouth
What Ngāmotu means, Puke Ariki, the pā sites, Parihaka, Taranaki Maunga, Te Atiawa and the eight iwi of Taranaki.
New Plymouth is Ngāmotu, named for the islands beside Paritutu, and the city sits in the rohe of Te Atiawa beneath Taranaki Maunga. Here’s where to experience Māori culture in New Plymouth: taonga at Puke Ariki, the pā sites, Te Rewa Rewa, Parihaka and the maunga, the iwi, events and te reo.
Ngāmotu
Ngāmotu is the recognised Māori name for New Plymouth, referring to the islands beside Paritutu.
Puke Ariki
Hill of Chiefs: the pā site in the central city, now the name of the museum and library.
Te Kāhui Tupua
The legal person made up of Taranaki Maunga and the surrounding peaks, recognised in law in 2025.
Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki
The national park around the maunga, named in the 2025 Taranaki Maunga settlement law.
Te Takapou Whāriki o Taranaki
The sacred woven mat of Taranaki: Puke Ariki’s gallery of Māori history and taonga.
Ways to experience Māori culture in New Plymouth
See the taonga at Puke Ariki, walk Pukerangiora with the hapū’s stories, cross Te Rewa Rewa, or head inland to Te Koru Pā. Check with each place for dates and prices.
Museum and pā
Puke Ariki
Named after the pā that stood on the site, Puke Ariki (Hill of Chiefs). Its gallery Te Takapou Whāriki o Taranaki, the sacred woven mat of Taranaki, tells of the way of life of the first Māori people of Taranaki and their taonga; photography and phones are not permitted in that gallery. Entry to all parts of the museum is free.
VisitPukerangiora Pā
The ancestral home of Pukerangiora hapū and one of Aotearoa’s most significant historic sites, besieged in the Musket Wars and on the front line of the first Taranaki War in 1861. A wheelchair-friendly track circles the pā, with interpretation panels and QR codes. DOC says you can request a guided visit through the hapū’s website, which also has a self-guided Storymapp. It is a wāhi tapu: no eating or drinking on the pā site, and stay on the tracks.
DOCAt your own pace
Te Koru Pā
Regarded as one of the most important pā in Taranaki, believed to date to about 1500 AD and traditionally recognised as built by Ngā Mahanga a Tairi. It is of cultural, traditional and spiritual significance to Ngāti Tairi, and was gifted to the Crown in 1927 by Kehu Moepuke and her niece Mere Te Waioranga for public education. Follow the marked route and don’t disturb the stonework or pits.
Read our guideTe Rewa Rewa
The bridge leads to land that is sacred to Ngāti Tawhirikura: a historic pā on one side of the river and a burial ground on the other. It was designed to honour that relationship, through an agreement between the hapū and the council. Treat the burial ground with respect.
Read our guideParitutu and Ngā Motu
The islands beside Paritutu give the city its Māori name, Ngāmotu. Paritutu was a navigational landmark and the site of a former village; the islands are now in the Ngā Motu/Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area.
Read our guideTaranaki Maunga
An ancestor of Taranaki Māori. Since 2025 Taranaki and the peaks Pouākai, Patuhā, Kaitake and Panitahi are a legal person, Te Kāhui Tupua. DOC asks climbers not to stand on the summit peak, and not to camp, cook, toilet or litter in the summit area.
Read our guideMāori events through the year
Waitangi Day at Ngāmotu Beach
A free afternoon of music, kai and activities, organised by the council every Waitangi Day since 2014 and supported by Ngāti Te Whiti. In 2027 Waitangi Day is observed on Monday 8 February for those who don’t usually work Saturdays.
Te Rā o Te Whiti and Te Rā o Tohu
Held at Parihaka every month: Te Whiti’s day on the 18th and Tohu’s on the 19th. Pōwhiri or mihi whakatau usually start from 9.30am, and hui are held with manuhiri; the morning kōrero on the 18th is normally in te reo Māori. The papakāinga has its own standards of behaviour for visitors.
Puanga | Matariki
The Māori new year, marked at Puke Ariki as Puanga | Matariki. Check its What’s On for events.
Matariki public holiday
Matariki falls on Friday 25 June in 2027.
Marae in and around New Plymouth
Marae are the gathering places of hapū and iwi. They are not visitor attractions: you visit a marae when you’re invited, or by arrangement with the marae, often with a group, a school or an event. Each marae has its own kawa (protocol), so ask your hosts what they expect.
Ōwae (Manukorihi)
A Te Atiawa marae of Manukorihi and Ngāti Rāhiri, with the wharenui Te Ikaroa-a-Māui (1936). The Taranaki Maunga redress deed, Te Ruruku Pūtakerongo, was signed here in 2023.
Read our guideParihaka Pā
The papakāinga of the descendants and followers of Tohu and Te Whiti, with three marae: Takitūtū (Te Paepae o Te Raukura), Parāhuka (Te Niho o Te Ātiawa) and Toroānui.
Te Kāhui MāngaiIn the city itself, Ngāti Te Whiti, the mana whenua of New Plymouth, is building Ngāmotu Marae in Moturoa near the waterfront, to give the hapū a home in its own rohe. Read more.
How a welcome usually goes
- GatherThe visitors assemble together, and the hosts begin the welcome.
- KarangaA woman from the hosts calls you on, and a kaikaranga (caller) from your group answers. Walk on together as the calling continues.
- Whaikōrero and waiataSpeeches from hosts and visitors, each followed by a song.
- KohaA gift, usually money in an envelope, laid down by your last speaker.
- Hongi and harirūShake hands and press noses with the hosts.
- HākariA shared meal ends the welcome and lifts the tapu of the pōwhiri.
Te Atiawa and the iwi of Taranaki
The eight iwi of Taranaki are Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine, Taranaki Iwi, Te Atiawa, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Mutunga and Ngāti Tama. New Plymouth is in the rohe of Te Atiawa, and its hapū Ngāti Te Whiti are the mana whenua of the city.
Te Atiawa
The iwi takes its name from Te Awa-nui-ā-rangi. Its hapū include Ngāti Rāhiri, Ōtaraua, Pukerangiora, Puketapu, Ngāti Tawhirikura, Manukorihi, Ngāti Tuparikino, Ngāti Te Whiti and Hamua. Its trust greets the motu: “E ngā iwi o te motu nei, he raukura rā tēnei.”
Their siteNgāti Te Whiti
Their rohe closely matches the city. They support the council’s free Waitangi Day at Ngāmotu Beach, and they are building Ngāmotu Marae.
Te Ao Māori NewsTaranaki Iwi
Te Kāhui Māngai lists the three Parihaka marae under Taranaki Iwi, along with Ōākura Pā, home of Ngāti Tairi.
Their siteNgāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Maru
Ngāti Mutunga is a coastal iwi of North Taranaki, with Ngāti Tama to the north and Ngāti Maru inland to the east. Their marae are Urenui, Pukearuhe and Te Upoko o te Whenua at Tarata.
NPDCMāori history and stories
The first Taranaki War began at Waitara on 17 March 1860, when British forces attacked Te Kohia Pā, built by Wiremu Kīngi Te Rangitāke and his followers (NPDC). At Parihaka, Tohu Kākahi and Te Whiti o Rongomai led a community that resisted the confiscation of land without violence; it was invaded by colonial troops in November 1881.
Māori History in New Plymouth
Ngāmotu, the pā sites, the Taranaki Wars and the Parihaka movement.
Read the historyLearning te reo Māori in New Plymouth
Te reo Māori learning for adults. Check each provider for the latest dates.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
Te Kahupapa o te Reo, a Level 1 classroom course with no fees, among its reo Māori programmes.
Find out moreKōhanga reo
Kōhanga reo are Māori-language early learning centres. The Ministry of Education directory lists 5 in New Plymouth District. Find one on the Kōhanga Reo National Trust map.
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Kōpae Tamariki Kia Ū Te Reo (Spotswood)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Waiwhakaiho (Fitzroy)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngā Pekanga (Waitara)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Waitara (Waitara)
- Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Rangiora (Inglewood)
Schools that teach in te reo Māori
Te Pi’ipi’inga Kakano Mai I Rangiatea
Composite school. All students taught in te reo Māori.
Māori community services
Māori Land Court
The nearest Māori Land Court office is the Aotea office in Whanganui.
Court officesAbout this page
Explore New Plymouth is an independent local guide. This page draws on Te Atiawa, Taranaki Iwi, the Parihaka Papakāinga, Te Kāhui Māngai, New Plymouth District Council, Puke Ariki, DOC, Heritage New Zealand, the Ministry of Education and the providers’ own sites. Spotted something to add or correct? Let us know.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Māori name for New Plymouth?
Ngāmotu, referring to the islands beside Paritutu.
What iwi is New Plymouth?
New Plymouth is in the rohe of Te Atiawa. Its hapū Ngāti Te Whiti are the mana whenua of the city.
What are the eight iwi of Taranaki?
Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine, Taranaki Iwi, Te Atiawa, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Mutunga and Ngāti Tama.
What happened at Parihaka?
Under Tohu Kākahi and Te Whiti o Rongomai, Parihaka resisted the confiscation of land without violence. Colonial troops invaded it in November 1881 and hundreds of people were imprisoned in the South Island. The community still gathers on the 18th and 19th of each month.
Is Taranaki Maunga a legal person?
Yes. Since 2025 Taranaki and the surrounding peaks are a legal person called Te Kāhui Tupua, and the national park is Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki.
Can you stand on the summit of Taranaki?
DOC asks climbers not to stand on the summit peak, out of respect for the maunga, and not to camp, cook, toilet or litter in the summit area.
Where can I see Māori taonga in New Plymouth?
Puke Ariki on St Aubyn Street, in its gallery Te Takapou Whāriki o Taranaki. Entry is free.
Where can I learn te reo Māori in New Plymouth?
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa teaches a Level 1 classroom te reo course with no fees at its Ngāmotu Wharekura campus in Spotswood.