Te Pokohiwi o Kupe, or Wairau Bar, is an early archaeological site on the north-eastern coast of Te Waipounamu (the South Island) of Aotearoa, dated to early 14th Century and thought to be representative of the founding population of Māori in Aotearoa. Rangitāne o Wairau have upheld ahi kā and kaitiakitanga at Te Pokohiwi o Kupe for generations. This research supports iwi-led efforts to understand ancestral origins and reaffirms the site’s cultural and genealogical significance. The project aimed to assess the population history, genetic ancestry and relatedness of an early Māori population.