Kaitiakitanga

Kaitiaki is a New Zealand term used for the Māori concept of guardianship, for the sky, the sea, and the land. The process of protecting and looking after the environment is called kaitiakitanga, and traditional kaitiaki practices include rāhui and tapu[1].

The term kaitiaki is also increasingly used both in the Māori language and in New Zealand English for broader roles of trusteeship or guardianship—especially in public sector organisations.

Examples include:

• A proposed "Governance-Kaitiaki group" to oversee electronic authentication by government[2]
• New Zealand's Chief Ombudsman is "Nga Kaitiaki Mana Tangata" in Māori (i.e. "The guardian of the people")[3]
• The role of kaitiaki in the management of the Koha software project[4]

See also

• Māori influence on New Zealand English
• Māori language
• Māori religion
• Rangi and Papa

External links

• Kaitiaki.org.nz
• Kaitiakitanga.net