Ngāi Tahu are a resilient, entrepreneurial people who made our home in Te Waipounamu (South Island) over 800 years ago. Our ancestors were the first long distance seafarers, riding the ocean currents and navigating by stars on voyaging waka (canoes) from Hawaiki Nui. They populated the islands of the South Pacific eventually making their way to Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu.

[Excerpt retrieved from https://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/ngai-tahu/]

 

Ara Institute has an enduring partnership with Ngāi Tahu which holds the rangatiratanga (tribal authority) to over 80% of the South Island (Te Waipounamu).  Ara is part of the Māori Futures Collective (Tokona Te Raki) which is a collaboration between Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu and its partners to increase Māori participation, success and progression in education and employment.

(Ara Institute of Canterbury, 2019, Investment plan 2019 - 2021. p. 12-13).