Tainui

Tainui is a tribal waka confederation of New Zealand Māori iwi. The Tainui confederation comprises four principal related Māori iwi of the central North island of New Zealand: Hauraki, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa and Waikato. These iwi share a common ancestry from Polynesian migrants who arrived in New Zealand on the "Tainui" waka, which voyaged across the Pacific Ocean from Hawaiki to Aotearoa (New Zealand) approximately 800 years ago.

The Waikato-Tainui Iwi

It is well known that the Waikato iwi has been using the name "Tainui" to describe itself for some time, through the establishment of the "Tainui Māori Trust Board" in 1946, with many people now referring to the Waikato iwi as "Tainui" or "Waikato-Tainui". The Waikato iwi is based in the Waikato region, and the Waikato River plays a large role in the history and culture of the iwi. Hamilton City, New Zealand is the largest population center for the Waikato iwi people. However, the township Ngaruawahia is also important historically, and is the site of the National Marae, Turangawaewae. The Waikato-Tainui iwi comprises 33 hapu (sub-tribes) and 65 marae (family groupings). There are over 52,000 tribal members who affiliate to Waikato-Tainui.

Waikato-Tainui's governing parliamentary body is "Te Kauhanganui o Waikato Incorporated", comprising 195 tribal members – 3 members from each of the 65 marae. The 65 marae are spread over a large area from Te Kuiti and Cambridge in the south to Auckland City in the north. The Waikato-Tainui tribal administration (or Iwi Authority) is the "Waikato Raupatu Trustee Company Ltd", which replaced the "Tainui Māori Trust Board", and is situated at Hopuhopu, Ngaruawahia.

There have traditionally been strong links between Tainui and the University of Waikato, which has strengths in Māori language and modern local history. The university also holds documents and objects related to the tribe.

In 1999 the tribe invested in the Auckland Warriors along with a consortium that included Graeme Lowe and Malcolm Boyle. The club performed poorly both on the field and financially. Half way through the 2000 season the tribe bought out the consortium in a bid to turn the fortunes of the club around. By the end of the season the club was near bankruptcy and most of the assets were sold to Eric Watson who formed the New Zealand Warriors. [ [http://www.warriors.co.nz/page/club_history_1995_2005.html Vodafone Warriors Club History] ]

From 2002 until 2008 Tainui was also the name of a Māori electorate in the New Zealand parliament. It is currently represented by Nanaia Mahuta.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.tainui.co.nz Official site of the tribe, Waikato]
* [http://www.maniapoto.iwi.nz Official site of the tribe, Maniapoto]
* [http://www.raukawa.org.nz Official site of the tribe, Raukawa]
* [http://www.haurakimaori.co.nz Official site of the tribe, Hauraki]
* [http://www.tgh.co.nz Official site of Tainui Group Holdings, Waikato-Tainui Owned Company]
* [http://www.waikato.ac.nz Official site of Waikato University]
* [http://www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealanders/MaoriNewZealanders/HaurakiTribes/en "Hauraki tribes"] in Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand
* [http://www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealanders/MaoriNewZealanders/Waikato/en "Waikato"] in Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand