Welcome to Ngatiawa Iwi

Welcome

Ngāti Awa Research and Archives Trust was created from the need to preserve, store and utilise the numerous research and historical documents which had been compiled to support the Ngati Awa Waitangi Tribunal Raupatu research.

Research began some twenty-five years ago in the 1980s, led by Sir Sidney Mead, with the assistance of many other dedicated individuals. After several years the team of researchers collected a significant amount of supporting documentation uniquely linked to Ngati Awa. Manuscripts, private collections, photographs and whakapapa provided a rich and colourful history of our past.

There was a concerted effort made to establish a centre to store the myriad of research related documents, and at the same time make them accessible to Ngāti Awa descendants and those interested from the wider community. Consequently, Ngāti Awa Research and Archives Trust was formed in 1994.

The Trust’s primary responsibility is to act as a repository for tribal archives, including historic and contemporary records. It is also responsible for tribal registrations of ngā uri o Ngāti Awa which exceeds 19,000 registered members.