Rangatiratanga

Rangatiratanga is a Māori concept referring to the chiefly authority, governance, and self-determination of Māori iwi (tribes) and hapū (sub-tribes) within Aotearoa New Zealand. It encompasses the right to manage lands, resources, taonga (treasures), and tribal affairs according to customary authority and values, and to participate in decision making affecting Māori communities.

Etymologically, the term derives from rangatira, meaning a chief or leader, and the suffix -tanga, indicating state or condition. The phrase tino rangatiratanga, often translated as full sovereignty or complete chieftainship, signals the highest level of authority claimed by Māori over internal affairs and resources. Rangatiratanga in a broader sense also denotes the ongoing right of iwi and hapū to govern their affairs and preserve their cultural heritage.

In the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) of 1840, te tino rangatiratanga is highlighted in the Māori text of Article II, alongside guarantees of ongoing authority over lands, villages, and taonga. The English version speaks of kawanatanga (governance) for the Crown, a linguistic divergence that has shaped decades of interpretation and debate. The relationship between rangatiratanga and kawanatanga has been a focal point in discussions of sovereignty, partnership, and constitutional arrangements in New Zealand.

In the modern era, rangatiratanga is a central principle in Waitangi Tribunal inquiries, treaty settlements, and governance arrangements involving Māori authorities and co-management of natural resources. It remains a key concept in discussions about Māori rights, self-determination, and the evolving constitutional landscape of New Zealand.