Iwi (pronounced ee-wee) are the largest everyday social units in Mori society. In pre-European times, iwi was synonymous with nationality; it described fully the people to whom a person belonged and owed allegiance. With the development of the country now called New Zealand, a much bigger social unit, the meaning became analogous to that of tribe or clan. Iwi groups can trace their ancestry to the original Māori settlers that arrived from Hawaiiki, at least according to tradition. Māori who know their iwi connections typically value them highly and place great pride in knowing their genealogy. Their origin is among the first things they mention when introducing themselves.
1 Bones or roots
In the Maori language, iwi also means bones. The Maori author, Keri Hulme, named her best known ( 1985 Booker Prize) novel The Bone People, a title linked directly to the dual meaning of bone and tribalTribal as a noun, refers to a type of design or image that has been influenced by tribes of indigenous peoples. Often a tribal has reference to a tattoo, due to the fact that "tribal" tattoo designs are fairly popular currently. Tribal, as an adjective, p people. Returning home after travelling or living elsewhere is known as "going back to the bones", literally to where the ancestors are buried. Many societies would use the word roots.
Many iwi cluster into super-groups based on genealogical traditionWhakapapa or genealogy is a fundamental principle that permeates the whole of Maori culture. However, it is more than just a genealogical 'device'. It is in fact a paradigm of cultural discourse and provides the basis for establishing, enhancing and even, known as wakaBesides a Japanese poetry, Waka could mean: Waka is the name of the ocean-going and smaller canoes used by the Maori of New Zealand. A wiki derivative is called a Waka. Waka was the ancient name for the site of ruins from the Maya civilization in northern (literally: " canoeA canoe is a relatively small human-powered boat. It is propelled by one or more people (depending on the size of canoe), using single-bladed paddles. The paddlers face in the direction of travel, either in a seated position or kneeling on the bottom of ts", with reference to migrationMigration occurs when living things move from one biome to another. In most cases organisms migrate to avoid local shortages of food, usually caused by winter. Animals may also migrate to a certain location to breed. Bird migration is common. The longest legends, though the word is now applied also to cars). Each iwi can be divided into a number of hapu ("sub-tribes"). (For example, the Ngati WhatuaThe Ngati Whatua iwi ("tribe") of New Zealand consists of four hapu ("subtribes"): Te Uri O Hau, Te Roroa, Te Taou, and Ngati Whatua. Its traditional territory or rohe is in and north of Auckland. Its base is at Kaipara. The part that brought the tribe in iwi consists of the hapu: Te Uri O Hau, Te Roroa, Te Taou, and Ngati Whatua ki Orakei.)
Despite migration within New Zealand and intermarriage with non-Maori over a couple of centuries, most iwi groups still exist and have significant political power, which they exercise to recover land and other assets taken from them over the last 150 years. A notable example of this is the recent settlement between the New Zealand Government and the Ngāi Tahu, compensating that iwi for various losses of the rights that were guaranteed in the Treaty of WaitangiThe Treaty of Waitangi ( Maori Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed on February 6, 1840 at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. It was signed by representatives of the British Crown, the chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand, of 18401840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). Events January 3 One of the predecessor papers to the Herald Sun of Melbourne, Australia, The Port Phillip Herald is founded by George Cavanaugh. January 10 Uniform penny postage. Iwi affairs have a very real impact on New Zealand politics and society. A current claim by some iwi that they own the seabed and foreshore in their areas has polarised public opinion (see New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy).
