Kāwanatanga (governance)

Kāwanatanga, a Māori term, refers to governance or the authority to govern. It signifies the power to make decisions, enforce laws, and manage resources within a community or territory. In the context of New Zealand, it was used in the Treaty of Waitangi to describe the Crown’s authority to govern the land. While it grants official power, it also carries the responsibility to exercise that authority justly, respecting the rights and customs of the tangata whenua (people of the land). Essentially, kāwanatanga is the legal and political capacity to lead and organize societal affairs.