The classification criteria are as described in the Operational issues section of the Definition.
Iwi is a hierarchical classification with two levels.
Level 1 represents Iwi region (rohe) and is to be used for summary purposes only, and does not imply any future or present confederation of Iwi. Level 2 shows individual Iwi.
Level 1 has 14 categories and level 2 has 128 categories – excluding residual categories.
Within level 1 there are categories that allow for respondents who:
The residual categories are defined in Glossary and references.
The full classification is available in the 'Available Files' section on the main page.
To date, most Iwi data has been collected via a written response. Respondents are also asked to give the Iwi region. Regional information is used when an Iwi name is common to more than one region and to assist with difficult to code responses.
A codefile is used to code responses. A codefile is a comprehensive list of probable survey responses and the classification categories to which they are coded. Besides names of Iwi the codefile contains common spelling variations; older and traditional Iwi names; marae and meeting house names; ancestor names; hapū, waka and geographic landmarks which are specific to one Iwi; regional information to distinguish individual Iwi that share common names.
Where respondents are asked to name the Iwi they affiliate with, multiple responses should be expected. When more than the maximum number of responses is given there is no hierarchy for determining which Iwi affiliations should be captured; answers should be captured in the order in which they are given.
If a respondent names a waka or an Iwi confederation, rather than an Iwi, choose from among the level 1 code 20 'Iwi not named, but waka or iwi confederation known' categories.
Although there are no legally defined Iwi geographic boundaries it is generally agreed that Iwi boundaries overlap. If a respondent names an Iwi which is common to more than one region, but the regional information they give is insufficient to confidently assign their affilliation to a particular Iwi, use one of the level 1 code 21 'Iwi named but region unspecified' categories.
If a respondent names an Iwi which is common to more than one region, but does not name the region, use one of the level 1 code 21 'Iwi named but region unspecified' categories.
If a respondent names a hapū, the name of which is common to more than one Iwi, code to 2200 'Hapū affiliated to more than one Iwi'.