Rūnanga

In Māori culture, a rūnanga (runaka in Southern Māori dialect) is a council, tribal council, assembly, board or boardroom.[1] The term can also be a verb meaning "to discuss in an assembly".[1] An iwi (tribe) can have one governing rūnanga and many sub rūnanga, in such cases it can be used to mean the subdivision of a tribe governed by that council.[2] It is also used for non tribal affiliations as with the CTU Runanga a sub union for Māori workers.[3]

For the New Zealand town, see Runanga, New Zealand.

The leader or representative of a rūnanga is sometimes referred to as Te Upoku o Te Rūnanga (literally "The head of the rūnanga").

Historical organization and practice

The Rūnanga System (1861–1863) constituted a system of Māori self-government devised by Governor George Grey, to be comparable to the provinces. The plan was for them to be led by European commissioners. The system was never fully implemented and was cancelled due to the New Zealand Wars.[4]

Modern practice

Rūnanga as a broad definition can be seen as the way groups make or attempt to make decisions. Māori groups and councils debate and discuss issues in a vast array of different ways and while informed by the past have changed greatly over the last century.

Examples of notable rūnanga
Name Group
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Iwi
CTU Runanga Union
Ōtākou Runaka Sub-iwi

References
  1. Moorfield, John C. "Rūnanga". Te Aka Māori-English, English-Māori Dictionary and Index (Online version). New Zealand: Pearson Education; Auckland University of Technology. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  2. "Papatipu Rūnanga". Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  3. "CTU Runanga – NZCTU". www.union.org.nz. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  4. Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "The rūnanga system, 1861". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 December 2018.


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