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Māori Royalty Introduction

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Māori Royalty Introduction

Explore Māori leadership and the words used to talk about it. Read the short information text, then complete the activities. Māori communities are diverse; leadership roles and tikanga can vary between iwi. Use macrons where shown.

Read: leadership and the Kīngitanga

Rangatira is commonly used for a chief, leader or person of standing. Māori leadership is connected to responsibilities to people and place, and may involve mana, service, relationships and wise decision-making. Whanaungatanga refers to relationships and a sense of connection; manaakitanga involves care, hospitality and respect; kotahitanga is unity or collective purpose. These ideas are not simply a checklist: their meaning is shaped by people, context and tikanga. The Kīngitanga, or Māori King Movement, began in the 1850s. It was established by Māori leaders to support unity among iwi and to strengthen Māori authority and land interests during a period of rapid change and land loss. It has its own history and tikanga. The monarch is selected according to the movement’s tikanga, rather than through New Zealand’s general election. The role is not the same as being a head of government, and the movement does not represent every Māori person or iwi. In te reo Māori, kīngi means king and kuīni means queen. Kuīni Māori can mean Māori queen. These words describe titles; they do not by themselves explain the full responsibilities or history of a particular person or role.

Check and interpret

Use evidence from the information text. For written responses, explain your reasoning in your own words.

1.Which statement best describes the Kīngitanga, according to the text?

A movement begun in the 1850s to support unity and strengthen Māori authority and land interests
A government department that represents every iwi
A title that means Māori queen
A movement created through New Zealand’s general election

2.Match each te reo Māori term to the closest meaning given in the text.

rangatira
whanaungatanga
manaakitanga
kotahitanga
kīngi

relationships and connection
care, hospitality and respect
unity or collective purpose
leader or person of standing
king

3.Fill the gap using these words: tikanga, kuīni, iwi, mana. A Māori community or people connected through shared ancestry may be an .

4.Fill the gap using these words: tikanga, kuīni, iwi, mana. includes authority, prestige or spiritual power, depending on context.

5.Fill the gap using these words: tikanga, kuīni, iwi, mana. Māori can mean Māori queen.

6.Fill the gap using these words: tikanga, kuīni, iwi, mana. refers to customary values and practices.

7.True or false: The text says the Māori monarch is selected according to the Kīngitanga’s tikanga, not by New Zealand’s general election.

TrueFalse

8.Why would it be inaccurate to say that the Kīngitanga represents every Māori person and iwi? Use one detail from the text.

Apply the ideas

Imagine a community group is planning a gathering where people from several iwi will meet. Consider how leadership can support respectful participation without assuming that everyone has the same views.

9.A group leader listens to different perspectives, makes space for people to contribute, and helps the group agree on a shared next step. Choose two concepts from the text that connect to these actions and explain each connection.

10.Which conclusion is best supported by the information text?

Leadership can involve responsibilities and relationships, and its expression depends on context and tikanga.
Every Māori leadership role has exactly the same responsibilities.
A title alone tells us everything about a leader’s work.
Kotahitanga means that people must always agree on every issue.

11.Write one respectful question you could ask to learn more about the Kīngitanga or Māori leadership. Avoid assuming that one person speaks for all Māori.