whnau

Whānau is a Māori term meaning family or extended kin network. The standard spelling uses a macron over the a (whānau) to indicate the long vowel; the word is sometimes written as whanau or whnau in English texts without the macron. The term refers not only to immediate family but to a broader social unit that includes relatives across generations, close friends, and others who are considered part of the family.

In Māori culture, the whānau is a central organizing principle. Membership is tied to whakapapa (genealogy), and whanaungatanga (the sense of kinship and obligation) creates responsibilities to care for one another, share resources, and pass down language, culture, and values. Whānau often spans multiple generations and households, and can include adoptive or chosen family members.

In everyday usage, whānau can describe a nuclear family or an extended network; it is also used in public policy and community services to refer to family-centered approaches, such as whānau ora, which aims to improve holistic wellbeing by supporting the entire family.

Related terms include whakapapa (genealogy), iwi (tribe), hapū (sub-tribe), and whanaungatanga. The concept and its practices vary among iwi and urban versus rural contexts, but the emphasis on familial responsibility and cultural continuity is widely recognized in Māori communities.