The eponymous ancestor of Te Uri o Hau is Haumoewaarangi. From the marriage of Haumoewaarangi with Waihekeao came seven offspring; Makawe, Mauku, Whiti, Weka, Ruinga, Rongo and Hakiputatomuri. From Hakiputatomuri came many descendants known to this day as Te Uri o Hau.

 

Some of the important elements of Te Uri o Hau history as passed down through the generations were included in a waiata which was sung by Te Uri o Hau at the Waitangi Tribunal hearings for Kaipara Stage One in 1997 and 1998.

 

Haumoewaarangi te Tupuna kei runga

Nana ka puta Hakiputatomuri

Nana it tapa ana uri whakaheke

Ko nga Uri o Hau e

Ko nga Uri o Hau e

 

Mangawhai Taporapora Kaipara whakarere wahine

He whakatauiki o nga Tupuna

Mai i Hawaiiki nui ki te awa o Kaipara

Ko nga Uri o Hau e

Ko nga Uri o Hau e

 

Tena e nga Uri Hapainga ki runga

Nga whakatauki o nga Tupuna

Mai i Hawaiiki nui ki te awa o Kaipara

Ko nga Uri o Hau e

Ko nga Uri o Hau e

 

Aue e rere ra

Aue Aue e rere ra

E te manu ki tona tauranga e

Hi aue Hi

 

The oral history of Te Uri o Hau records that Ngati Whatua (of whom Te Uri o Hau is part) and the Crown had a special relationship which was recognised in two distinctive ways. First, by their entering into a separate treaty written on a sheepskin parchment which is known as ‘Kirihipi Te Tiriti o Ngati Whatua’. Secondly, in the presentation by the Crown of a bust of Queen Victoria which is sited in a place of importance at Aotearoa marae, Otamatea to this day.

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