General
iwi
What does iwi mean?
A Māori tribe, the largest everyday social grouping, descended from a common ancestor.
"Several iwi were consulted about the land."
Origin
From Māori 'iwi' (tribe, people, bones); standard in New Zealand English.
Frequently asked questions
What does iwi mean?
Iwi is the Māori word for a tribe, the largest everyday social grouping, made up of people descended from a common ancestor.
What is the difference between iwi and hapū?
An iwi is a large tribe, while a hapū is a smaller sub-tribe or kinship group within an iwi.
Is iwi singular or plural?
Like many Māori words, iwi stays the same in singular and plural, so you can say 'one iwi' or 'several iwi'.
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