Tangata whenua
Tangata whenua, a Māori term meaning "people of the land," embodies the indigenous connection of Māori to their ancestral territories and natural environment in New Zealand. This concept signifies more than mere ownership; it reflects a profound spiritual and cultural relationship where the land, water, and air are considered integral to identity. Māori believe they are born from the Earth mother, Papatūānuku, and view themselves as guardians, or kaitiaki, of the land and its treasures, known as taonga, which include sacred sites, natural resources, and cultural landscapes.
The belief that land cannot truly be owned leads to a unique perspective on guardianship and stewardship, emphasizing the importance of environmental protection and sustainable practices. Tangata whenua encompasses various landscapes, including sacred mountains and waters, which hold significant cultural stories and traditions, like the creation myths surrounding Lake Taupo and its surrounding mountains. Additionally, the marae, traditional meeting spaces, play a crucial role in Māori society, fostering community and cultural continuity. Overall, the concept of tangata whenua is central to understanding Māori identity, spirituality, and their ongoing relationship with the land in New Zealand.
Tangata whenua
Tangata whenua is a Māori term that means “people of the land.” It may refer to people of a specific region or the Māori people in general. The people of New Zealand have held some discussions about the use of the term, and some have suggested it should replace the use of Māori.
The Māori people’s strong connection to the land led to conflicts with European settlers as they colonized New Zealand. The Indigenous peoples did not believe land could belong to someone; therefore, they did not understand how the newcomers could claim ownership of it. Centuries later, the local Tuwharetoa Māori of the North Island gifted sacred volcanoes to the nation of New Zealand; the nation created the Tongariro National Park to protect the site.
Overview
Tangata whenua defines the deep connection traditionally felt by Indigenous New Zealanders to the land, water, and air. Māori believed that land could not be owned, possessed, held, or traded. They believed they belonged to the land, and the land was part of their identity. They believed they were born out of the land, the Earth mother Papatūānuku and this relationship is integral to their existence. The land encompasses more than the soil, including many features of the terrain, among them riverbeds, wetlands, mountains, water, vegetation, and hydrothermal areas. It also includes plants, such as those used for medicinal purposes and other utilities, and sites with cultural, social, and spiritual significance. The land, soil, and water are treasures, or taonga. The Māori view themselves as guardians, or kaitiaki, of the taonga. This guardianship, a predecessor to modern ideas of environmental stewardship, is central to the feelings of unity local people, or tangata whenua, experience.
New Zealand comprises two main islands, the North Island and the South Island. Both islands contain sites sacred to the people. Māori believe that, after death, their spirits travel to Cape Reiga, at the northern end of the North Island. There, the spirits travel down a root of the ancient pohutukawa tree that grows there. The tree is the gateway to the underworld, the realm of Hine-nui-te-pō, the goddess of death. Then, the spirits travel north to Hawaiiki-a-nui, the ancestral homeland.
The northern regions of New Zealand were more heavily populated. The climate is more temperate, and communities fished, hunted, and grew some crops. The North Island is home to many sacred sites, including Lake Taupo, called the island’s “beating heart.” The lake occupies an ancient volcanic crater on a plateau. The area is surrounded by mountains—which the Māori believe were once mighty warriors—along with a trio of volcanoes and three rivers that also hold sacred significance.
The connection to the land felt by the Māori is seen in their many creation stories and myths. These involve rivers, mountains, the ocean, and many other natural features of New Zealand. For example, the mountains of the North Island were mighty warriors—except for one, a beautiful female, Pihanga. The male mountains fought one another for her hand in battles that included volcanic eruptions, smoke, and fire. In the end, the winner stood with his bride, and the others moved off to a respectful distance. Today, they encircle Lake Taupo.
Bibliography
Anderson, Atholl, Judith Binney, and Aroha Harris. Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History. Bridget Williams Books, 2014.
De Graaf, Peter. “Fears for Sacred Cape Reinga Pohutukawa.” New Zealand Herald, 10 May 2017, www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c‗id=1&objectid=11853207. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
“Māori Sites.” New Zealand Department of Conservation, www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/heritage/heritage-topics/maori-sites. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
“‘Tangata Whenua’ a Better Term than ‘Maori,’ Says Turia.” New Zealand Herald, 6 Aug. 2003, www.nzherald.co.nz/treaty-of-waitangi/news/article.cfm?c‗id=350&objectid=3516881. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Thompson, Christina. “How New Zealand Recognizes the People There First.” Foreign Policy, 28 Nov. 2021, foreignpolicy.com/2021/11/28/maori-land-native-new-zealand. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.