Ngati Te Ata are the local Maori iwi who are a very big family and are all descendants of Te Atai Rehia, a princess that resided in the Waiuku area. Ngati Te Ata were well established in the Waiuku region long before the main migration of the famed 7 maori canoes that sailed from Polynesia in the early 1300's.

The iwi has it's own culture and still practises many traditional ways that have been passed down from generation to generation. It also has many achievers amongst this family. The photo above shows the medal wining outrigger canoe team who won a 2 silver and a bronze medal at the national champs. The current Miss World New Zealand 2008 is also of Ngati Te Ata descent not to mention the scores of Rugby players that have turned out for Counties Manukau and the All Blacks over the years including legendary No 8, Troy Flavell.