March 10, 2026

#whenua: Ngāti Apakura Partners With Stats NZ to Reconnect Whānau Through Data

Matthew Tukaki Posted On March 10, 2026

Ngāti Apakura has entered into a new partnership with Statistics New Zealand aimed at using data to reconnect whānau and strengthen the iwi’s presence across Aotearoa.

The collaboration brings together the Apakura Rūnanga Trust and the national statistics agency in what is being described as a significant step toward rebuilding connections with descendants of Ngāti Apakura who are now scattered across the motu.

For Ngāti Apakura, the project is about more than collecting information. It is part of a wider effort to restore and reaffirm the identity of an iwi whose history has been shaped by displacement and resilience.

Historically, many Ngāti Apakura whānau were absorbed into neighbouring iwi across Te Ika-a-Māui following periods of upheaval and land loss. As a result, generations of descendants have grown up unaware of their links to the iwi.

Despite that, the strength of the iwi’s whakapapa was evident in the most recent national census. During the 2023 census process, hundreds of people wrote Ngāti Apakura as their iwi affiliation even though the iwi was not listed as an official option. The Apakura Rūnanga Trust is now working to ensure the iwi is formally recognised in future census processes.

The new partnership with Stats NZ is intended to build the iwi’s capability to gather and manage its own information. Over a two-year programme, specialists from the statistics agency will work alongside the iwi to develop tools for data collection, analysis and governance.

The programme will include the development of surveys to engage with whānau, as well as systems to ensure data is managed in ways that respect tikanga and Māori data sovereignty. Training and analytical support will also be provided so the iwi can independently use data to guide decision-making and long-term planning.

A key aim of the project is to identify how many people whakapapa to Ngāti Apakura and where they live across the country. That information will help the iwi begin building a comprehensive tribal database and strengthen reconnection efforts with whānau who may not yet know their links to the iwi.

Data gathered through the partnership is expected to help establish baseline information about the social and economic realities facing Ngāti Apakura whānau, including areas such as housing, income and health.

Iwi leaders say the approach allows Ngāti Apakura to access analytical expertise while maintaining control over their own information and ensuring the data reflects their own priorities and aspirations.

As the work begins, Ngāti Apakura has also scheduled a series of online and in-person hui throughout March, inviting whānau to reconnect with their whakapapa and learn more about the iwi’s future plans.

The initiative reflects a broader movement among Māori organisations to strengthen data sovereignty and ensure communities can gather and interpret their own information in ways that support cultural identity, development and self-determination.