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.
These organisations can be loosely aligned according to their delivery model of services and advocacy into three strands:
- Taurahere iwi — these are whakapapa-based groups with ties beyond Tāmaki Makaurau. The primary focus of these organisations is for the wellbeing of their tribal members.
- Kaupapa — purpose-based groups and organisations who have come together for a common purpose. These groups offer services focussed on (but not exclusive to) Māori clients in areas such as health, education, sport and recreation.
- Takiwā — Marae and the two Urban Māori Authorities who have developed to service the Māori communities that have migrated to and make Tāmaki Makaurau their home. These organisations and facilities developed initially in areas where migrating Māori settled in Tāmaki Makaurau, responding to the needs of those Māori communities.
Links to some of the organisations serving the non-Mana Whenua Māori communities of Tāmaki Makaurau are available here.