Ngati

Ngāti is a Māori term used in the names of many iwi (tribes) in Aotearoa/New Zealand. In the Māori language, Ngāti translates roughly as “people of” or “descendants of,” and functions as a prefix that identifies a kinship group descended from a common ancestor. The term is closely tied to tribal identity, lands, and authority structures, and it helps distinguish different iwi and hapū within the broader Māori world.

Many well-known iwi incorporate Ngāti in their names, illustrating the geographic and genealogical diversity of the Māori people. Examples include Ngāti Porou (the East Coast region of the North Island), Ngāti Kahungunu (the Hawke’s Bay region and parts of the lower North Island), Ngāti Whātua (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and nearby areas), Ngāti Tuwharetoa (the Tongariro region), Ngāti Awa (the Bay of Plenty), Ngāti Ruanui (South Taranaki), Ngāti Toa (Wellington and the southern Kapiti area), and Ngāti Rārua (central-Nouth Island). Each iwi has its own rohe (territory), whakapapa (lines of descent), and cultural traditions.

In contemporary New Zealand, Ngāti groups maintain organizational structures such as runanga (tribal councils) and iwi authorities. They participate in governance, language and education initiatives, and Treaty of Waitangi settlements with the Crown to address historical grievances and secure rights to land and resources. Ngāti communities continue to preserve language, tikanga (customs), and cultural practices while engaging with broader society.