Iwi

The concept of Iwi has changed over time. The definition given in the 1989 discussion paper Towards a Standard Classification of Iwi (Māori tribes) was adopted for the purposes of developing this standard, viz.

“The Iwi today is the focal economic and political unit of the traditional Mäori descent and kinship based hierarchy of:

This standard is prepared for statistical purposes only. It is not meant to be read as a final list of Iwi. Statistics New Zealand will amend the list of Iwi from time to time.

Operational issues

In deciding whether or not a tribal group will be classified as an Iwi consideration is given to:

• whether the group has been separately categorised in earlier Iwi or tribal classifications
• whether the group has been identified by respondents in previous surveys or censuses
• whether there is a history of the group operating as a separate Iwi in a business or resource management capacity, with legal and/or administrative recognition as such
• whether historical and genealogical tradition identify the group as distinctive
• whether the group (as hapū of a larger Iwi) is moving to acquire or petition for Iwi status.

In addition, Statistics New Zealand will consult with the larger Iwi to obtain its view on the group's position in relation to the five criteria listed above.

Population size is not a major determinant in deciding whether to treat a group as a separate category in the classification of Iwi.

Although regional variations in dialect have been noted among speakers of te reo Māori, linguistic differentiation is not a criterion for defining classification categories.

Explanatory notes

Recommendation 6 of the Report of the Review Committee on Ethnic Statistics (1988) states “… the Departments of Statistics [now Statistics New Zealand] and Mäori Affairs [now Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development)] develop a standard classification of tribal affiliation …”.

The classification has been entitled Iwi, rather than tribe, as more appropriate to the categories being classified. Affiliation is not included in the title. The classification is used for coding Iwi affiliation but it could also be used for other purposes, e.g. recording asset ownership by Iwi.

In 1991, in accordance with the requirements of the Runanga Iwi Act 1990, Census of Population and Dwellings asked people of Māori ancestry “What is the main iwi (tribe) you belong to?” and “What other iwi (tribes) do you have strong ties with?” Ranking Iwi into main and other is meaningless and, to many Māori, offensive; such a hierarchical concept should be avoided when collecting information on people’s affiliation to Iwi.

The Runanga Iwi Act was repealed in 1991.