Tautahi is the progenitor of the Ngāi Tahu iwi (tribe) in New Zealand and is considered one of the founding ancestors of the South Island Māori. He is said to have arrived in New Zealand on the waka (canoe) called 'Tākitimu' and played a significant role in the establishment of Ngāi Tahu as a prominent iwi.
Otautahi Meaning the place of Tautahi a chief who arrived in one of the original waka (ocean going canoes)
"The place of Tautahi"; he was a chief with a pa on Banks Peninsula and other residence in what is now the city centre. It is now used as the Maori name for the area of Christchurch City.