Whanau & Whakapapa

Archives New Zealand, Te Rua Mahara o te Kawanatanga is the official guardian of New Zealand’s public archives. We gather, store and protect an extremely wide range of material. Our holdings include the originals of the Treaty of Waitangi, government documents, maps, paintings, photographs and film. Many different people and organisations, including family historians, academics, legal researchers, professional historians and genealogists use the materials held at Archives New Zealand. They document rights and entitlements and provide evidence of government activity. The materials also record history and document the relationship between Maori and the Crown. The archives are a valuable resource and have contributed to Treaty claim research, Maori language revitalisation, and iwi, hapu and whanau history.

Whakapapa and Tribal Histories - An Introduction Maori families trace their descent through their ancestors back to their founding waka. This knowledge was traditionally passed on by one generation to the next under strict rules of tapu. It established a person's place and rights in traditional Maori society. People with Maori forbears, interested in tracing their whanau and iwi history, should first consult with their whanau and the elders of their tribe. Locating your whakapapa and tribal history outside this traditional source is possible through written records available in library, museum, and archive collections. This guide will help you locate information from published whakapapa and contemporary records. You may find it helpful to also use our Family History guide.