History

The Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporation was incorporated under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 on the 19th of December 1988 as Te Runanganui o Ngāti Kahungunu Incorporated. Six years later the authority, although financially strong, experienced political challenges that its governing body was unable to overcome on its own. After a short period, the organization was reborn on 9 December 1996 under the name Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated. A newly elected Board resumed control of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi affairs in May 1997. In 1998 the Board commissioned a team, comprising of Moana Jackson, Mereana Pitman and Mere Ruru assisted by Taanga Lawrence to undertake a constitutional review of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated. Their report, "Ma Te Rango Te Waka Ka Rere" is available at most libraries in New Zealand or on request from Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.

Demographics

Ngāti Kahungunu has the third largest Iwi population, The 2006 NZ Census and Local Government statistics show that 59,946 people or 12 percent of the Maori population, belong to Ngati Kahungunu. This was 8394 more than at the 2001 Census. A large percentage of  Kahungunu people reside outside the traditional iwi boundaries. Many more, not included in the census count, reside overseas. Geographically, Ngati Kahungunu has the second largest tribal rohe in the country, from the Wharerata ranges in the Wairoa District extending to Cape Palliser in South Wairarapa. The coastal boundaries are Paritu in the North to Turakirae in the South. Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated, with the mandate to represent the people of Ngati Kahungunu, is the Governing body for all aspects of Iwi development.