The New Iwi
Herewith some ideas about the 'new iwi'. Clearly we are living in a time when participation by iwi members in the life and affairs of their iwi is variable. I think one of the key challenges facing iwi is 'meaninglessness'. What does it mean to be Ngāti this and Ngāti that? In my view, the new iwi, the iwi of tomorrow will exist if we can creatively and fundamentally provide meaning and value to people's lives through participating and engaging with their iwi. (Cultural pride, obligation, a sense of duty, these have limited motivating powers.) Hence, I think we need to fundamentally readdress what it will mean to be an iwi and a member of an iwi in years to come. Here are some thoughts. An iwi is a community that shares relationships with certain important and specific ancestors who are manifested in specific places (e.g. marae, wāhi tapu etc). This is part of what is meant by 'tangata whenua'. An iwi is a community who derives identity, culture, heritage a