The 1950s onwards saw an influx of Māori from rural areas around the country to Aotearoa’s growing urban centres as Māori sought new opportunities. Currently around 89 per cent of Tāmaki Makaurau’ Māori population descend from iwi and hapū from other regions. The largest groupings hold primary whakapapa affiliations with Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Porou, Tuhoe and Kai Tahu iwi.
Matāwaka is a term that Te Kaunihera has adopted in acting under statute, however most of these groups prefer to be referred to simply as Māori communities. The largest of these communities have made their homes in the west and the south of Tāmaki Makaurau.
There are many entities that have developed over time to represent the interests of these communities, and they form an important and integral part of the Māori cultural and social landscapes in Tāmaki Makaurau.
