Indigenous Peoples of New Zealand: Māori, Moriori & Major Iwi

Tangata Whenua (People of the Land)

Māori (Largest Group)

• Polynesian settlers (~1300 AD)
• ~16.5% of NZ population (2023)
• Iwi (tribe) / Hapū (sub-tribe) structure
• Te Reo Māori (official language since 1987)
• Treaty of Waitangi (1840) foundation of Crown-Māori relations

Moriori

• Chatham Islands (Rēkohu) indigenous people
• Distinct culture, language (related to Māori)
• Near-extermination 1835 (Māori invasion); ~1,000 today
• Recognition & revival since 1990s

Major Iwi (Tribes)

• Ngāpuhi: Northland; largest iwi (~80K); Treaty signatories
• Waikato-Tainui: Waikato; ~100K; 1995 Treaty settlement (land/$)
• Ngāti Toa: Wellington/Kapiti; famed warrior Te Rauparaha
• Ngāi Tahu: South Island; largest there; 1998 settlement
• Te Arawa: Rotorua/Bay of Plenty; geothermal guardians
• Tūhoe: Urewera; "Children of the Mist"; 2014 settlement

All Māori share whakapapa (genealogy) to waka (canoe) arrivals. Iwi are political/cultural units with rohe (territories).