Pūkenga is the founding ancestor of the iwi. Pūkenga was of Mātaatua descent, and spent his life in Ruatoki. Upon his death, his people, known as Ngāti Hā, moved east towards Ōpōtiki. This resulted in the displacement of the tribe of Rōmainohorangi. Later, the displaced tribe, now known as Ngāti Te Rangihouhiri, requested the help of Ngāti Hā in battle.
For their assistance, Ngāti Pūkenga, as they were now known, were given land in Tauranga, where their main settlements still stand today. Ngāti Pūkenga also received land given to them in Hauraki, the little village of Manaia, where direct descendants of Ngāti Pūkenga, and Pūkenga himself still remain.[3]
The iwi is made up of 8 hapū (sub-tribes): Ngāti Hinemotu, Ngāti Kiorekino, Ngāti Kohokino, Ngāti Te Matau, Ngāti Te Rākau, Ngāti Tōwhare, Ngāti Whakina and Te Tāwera.[1]
The hapū share two marae (meeting grounds) and wharenui (meeting houses):
- Waitao Marae and Te Whetū o Te Rangi wharenui in Tauranga
- Manaia Marae and Te Kou o Rehua wharenui in Manaia[1]
Te Tāwharau o Ngāti Pūkenga is the governance entity recognised by the New Zealand Government to represent Ngāti Pūkenga following its Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the Crown on 7 April 2013. The trust is governed by one trustee from each of the four kainga: Pakikaikutu, Tokaanu, Manaia, and Tauranga.[1] It is a member of the Hauraki Collective.[4] As of 2016, the chair of the trust is Jocelyn Mikaere-Hollis, the general manager is Areta Gray, and the trust is based in Tauranga.[5]
Ngāti Pūkenga Iwi ki Tauranga Trust is the mandated iwi organisation for Ngāti Pūkenga under the Māori Fisheries Act, an iwi acquaculture organisation in the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act, a Tūhono organisation, and the iwi authority representing Ngāti Pūkenga under the Resource Management Act. It is charitable trust governed by six trustees from iwi whānui.[1] As of 2016, the chairperson of the trust is Rehua Smallman and the trust is based in Tauranga.[5]
The iwi has interests in the territory of Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Tauranga City Council.[1]
Black, Te Awanuiārangi (26 September 2006). "Tauranga Moana tribes". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 6 January 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2007. "About Us". Moana Radio. Moana Communications. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.