Civil registration is fundamental for securing legal identity and ensuring access to essential public services for every individual. On the basis of this guiding principle, the New Zealand government is consulting Māori (the indigenous people of New Zealand) on the possibility of collecting data about tribal (iwi) affiliation of the Māori population. One crucial consideration is the desire of the Māori people to share their information.

New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs has established The Iwi Affiliation Data Decision Group to decide if and how the Government can collect iwi affiliation data. The Group is co-chaired by Kirikowhai Mikaere, Pou-Arahi/Maori leader of Te Kāhui Raraunga Charitable Trust, and Jeff Montgomery, the Registrar-General. They strive to develop a better understanding of the Māori community’s needs and expectations for collecting, sharing, and verifying Iwi data. The Group will also consider the duties of both the Government and Māori throughout the data management lifecycle.

For more information, refer to this press release and this link to get the latest update from New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs.