Definitions
Hapū: a sub-tribe; most iwi are comprised of two or more hapū, although a number of smaller iwi have marae but no hapū.
- Note that Te Kāhui Māngai lists existing, active hapū and marae as advised by representative organisations identified on this website. Although we have made every attempt to capture all hapū and marae, there may be hapū and marae which are not included in this directory. Users should also note that this site is not intended to be a record of historical hapū and marae which are no longer active.
Iwi: in the context of this site an iwi is a Māori tribe descended from a common named ancestor or ancestors, and is usually comprised of a number of hapū.
Iwi authority:
the authority which represents an iwi and which is recognised by that iwi as having authority to do so.
Iwi population: iwi populations are those identified in the Māori Fisheries Act 2004, which are based on the 2001 Census.
Iwi whānui: encompassing all iwi members. For the purposes of this site the term is used to differentiate from representative iwi organisations that are comprised of representatives appointed by distinct hapū or marae.
Kaitiakitanga: the exercise of guardianship. In relation to a resource, kaitiakitanga includes the ethic of stewardship based on the nature of the resource itself.
Mana whenua: the exercise of traditional authority over an area of land [whenua]. In the context of Te Kāhui Māngai it is the area over which particular iwi and hapū claim historical and contemporary interests.
Mandate recognised by the Crown for Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations:
the body has obtained a mandate specifically to negotiate a Treaty settlement with the Crown. In some cases it may be an existing body with other representative functions.
Mandated iwi organisation in the Māori Fisheries Act:
when a recognised iwi organisation (RIO) has met the governance criteria set out in the Māori Fisheries Act it is entitled to receive fisheries assets as the mandated iwi organisation (MIO) for that iwi. There can be only one mandated iwi organisation per iwi.
Māori Fisheries Act 2004: this act formalised the settlement between the Crown and iwi for commercial fisheries, including mechanisms for allocation of commercial fisheries assets to representative iwi organisations.
Marae: a traditional meeting place for whānau, hapū and iwi members usually characterised by a named wharenui [meeting house] and named wharekai [dining house]. Some marae are more commonly known by the name of their wharenui, which is usually named after a tupuna [ancestor].
Post-Treaty settlement governance entity:
the representative organisation established after a Treaty settlement with the Crown that has the purpose of representing the iwi members and managing any assets resulting from the settlement.
Recognised iwi in the Māori Fisheries Act:
the Act identified a finite list of iwi for the purposes of allocation of fisheries assets; the list is comprehensive and means that all Māori can affiliate by whakapapa to at least one iwi.
Recognised iwi organisation in the Māori Fisheries Act:
an organisation recognised by Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited under section 27 as representing a particular iwi but not to receive fisheries assets; each iwi can have only one recognised iwi organisation; see Schedule 4 of the Act for the full list.
Representative Organisation: the organisation which holds a mandate to represent the specific kinship groups [hapū and iwi] identified on that web page.
Resource Management Act 1991: the purpose of this Act is to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources.
Rohe: a tribal district; the area over which iwi and hapū claim mana whenua. Maps and text describing Iwi rohe are reproduced according to information provided by their Representative Organisations. The iwi rohe page also lists the local authorities into whose districts the iwi rohe extends.
Rohe boundaries: rohe have been indicated as provided by the representative organisations. There are many overlapping rohe but it is not the function of this site to try to demarcate a single line between iwi as that was often not the case historically.
Taiwhenua: a term used by some iwi to define their representative districts based on hapū or marae groupings.
Takiwā: a tribal district more or less synonymous with "rohe". Some iwi have divided their rohe into several takiwā for purposes of representation.
Tangata whenua: in relation to a particular area, tangata whenua means the iwi, or hapū, that holds mana whenua over that area.
Whānau: a family or extended family.
Wharenui: the meeting house on the marae; also may be known as whare tipuna, wharepuni.