Waikirikiri Selwyn falls within the takiwā regions of Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki and Ngāi Tūāhuriri, who hold mana whenua as descendants of the previously mentioned iwi. The name Waikirikiri comes from the river that flows through the heart of the district, while Selwyn was later adopted by early settlers, honouring Bishop George Selwyn as townships began to take shape across the plains.
Today, the district’s cultural landscape reflects these intertwined histories, from Te Pā o Moki on the shores of Te Waihora, home of Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki, to the heritage sites, stories and landmarks that trace both Māori and colonial settlement across the region.
