“Rangatiratanga” is a word used in Article 2 of the Maori language version of the Treaty. It was used at that time, in that context, to convey the idea of chiefly authority. In modern times rangatiratanga has come to be the word used to jointly express three contemporary Maori aspirations: the aspiration to improve the economic position of Maori; the aspiration to have more autonomy over things that affect Maori and; the aspiration to have more influence over decisions that affect everyone. While all of these aspirations are very important the last of these amounts to an aspiration to alter New Zealand’s fluid, unwritten constitution.

What does rangatiratanga really mean? was last modified: September 6th, 2022 by Gareth Morgan