Abstract:
This article examines Maori relationships with the State, the ownership of rivers and issues of identity. My research site is the Waikato RIver which is located in the North Island of New Zealand and comprises a number of Te Arawa and Tainui tribes. Te Arawa and Tainui are two large territorially-based descent groups. While Te Arawa communities are located at the beginning of the waikato RIver in the Taupo and Reporoa area, Tainui communities pepper the length of the river from Whakamaru to Port Waikato