Whakapapa is about people: it is a link to tūpuna, to heritage, to identity. For Māori it is a taonga treasure, and for many it is also tapu sacred.
Kupu whakataki ki te rangahau whakapapa Introduction to whakapapa research
Why people search for whakapapa
There are many reasons why people search for whakapapa today:
- to find out about their tuakiri identity
- to pass on to the whānau
- for succession to whenua land
- for scholarship grants.
Traditionally whakapapa was entrusted orally to a member of the whānau selected to be its kaitiaki guardian. Today, whakapapa records can be found in various written sources as well as with whānau members. Knowing where or how to start is often the biggest challenge.
Snapshots of Māori attending a sitting of the Māori Land Court - Lake Taupō, 1914