whenua

Whenua is a Māori word meaning land, country, or homeland. It also conveys a person’s birthplace or place of origin and is used to refer to soil, territory, and the broader natural environment. The concept emphasizes that land and people are closely connected in Māori thought.

In Māori culture, whenua is more than a physical resource; it is a taonga (treasure) and a living element of whakapapa—the genealogical connections that link people to ancestors. Land stewardship, or kaitiakitanga, is a central obligation arising from that connection, guiding how communities care for soil, water, and ecosystems and how resources are allocated among whanau and hapū.

In modern New Zealand, the term appears in legal, political, and everyday contexts. It is used in discussions of Māori land rights, customary title, and treaty settlements, as well as in environmental and urban planning to acknowledge the relationship between people and place. Whenua continues to function as a locus of identity and belonging for many Māori and for the broader nation.