Te Whakakitenga

Te Whakakitenga o Waikato
Type
Type	unicameral
Leadership
Chair	Tipa Mahuta
Deputy Chair	Ngatitahinga Wilson
Te Arataura Chair	Tukoroirangi Morgan
Seats	175
Elections
Last election	13 January 2024
Next election	2027
Meeting place
Ngāruawāhia, Waikato region, New Zealand
Website
http://waikatotainui.com/

TeWhakakitenga o Waikato (also called the House in English) is the governing council of the Waikato Tainui iwi in New Zealand. Members are elected for three year terms, with each of 68 marae electing two members. ^[1]

The parliament was established by Tāwhiao of the Kīngitanga in 1889 or 1890 as Te Kauhanganui. ^{[2] [3]}

Background

Te Whakakitenga was originally established at Maungakawa as Te Kauhangannui, located in the present day settlement of Te Miro, near Cambridge. ^[2]

It was founded by Tāwhiao after his proposal to set up a pan-Māori parliament in New Zealand to complement the colonial legislative council was denied by Auckland authorities. ^[2] The parliament's members consisted of appointed tribal delegates who advised Tāwhiao on policy and was used by him to communicate with his subjects. ^[2]

Executive

The executive board of Te Whakakitenga is Te Arataura. This group consists of 10 members chosen by the parliament from amongst their members and 1 member chosen by the reigning Māori monarch. ^[4]

Leadership

Chairperson

List of chairpersons

Photo	Name	Term of office			Monarch
		Start	End	Duration
?
	Tania Martin	?	25 November 2012 [5]	?	Tūheitia r. 2006–2024
vacant		25 November 2012	August 2013 [6] [7]	~9 months
	Maxine Moana-Tuwhangai	August 2013	September 2017	~4 years 1 month
	Parekawhia McLean	September 2017 [8]	13 January 2024	~6 years 4 months
	Tipa Mahuta	13 January 2024 [9]	incumbent	19 months
					Nga wai hono i te po r. 2024–present

Te Arataura chairperson

List of Te Arataura chairpersons

Photo	Name	Term of office			Monarch
		Start	End	Duration
?
	Tukoroirangi Morgan	2006	2012 [10]	6 years	Tūheitia r. 2006–2024
	?
	Linda Te Aho		2022 [10]
	Tukoroirangi Morgan	2022	incumbent [10]	3 years
					Nga wai hono i te po r. 2024–present

References

1. "Governance – Waikato Tainui" . Retrieved 7 April 2021.
2. "Tensions ease - Maori King movement 1860-94". Normalising relations. New Zealand History online. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
3. "Te Kauhanganui now known as Te Whakakitenga o Waikato". Māori Television. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
4. "Iwi Governance". Tainui Group Holdings. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
5. Yates, Siena (26 November 2012). "Waikato-Tainui 'in-fighting' continues". Stuff .
6. "New leader for Te Kauhanganui". Radio New Zealand . 13 August 2013.
7. "Moana-Tuwhangai new Tainui chair". Waatea News . 14 August 2013.
8. Mclean, Parekawhia (2018). "Report of the Chair of Te Whakakitenga o Waikato" (PDF). Waikato-Tainui .
9. Mahuta, Tipa (2024). "Report of the Chair of Te Whakakitenga o Waikato" (PDF). Waikato-Tainui .
10. Rolleston, Te Aorewa (1 February 2024). "Tuku Morgan: The chairman, politician, broadcaster and respected leader". Waikato Times .