Introduction to whakapapa research
Kupu whakataki ki te rangahau whakapapa
Whakapapa is about people: it is a link to tūpuna, to heritage, to identity. For Māori it is a taonga, and for many it is also tapu.
Why people search for
whakapapa
There are many reasons why people search for
whakapapa today:
- to find out about their
tuakiri
- to pass on to the
whānau
- for succession to
whenua
- for scholarship grants.
Traditionally
whakapapa was entrusted orally to a member of the
whānau selected to be its
kaitiaki.