Whakapapa
![The New Zealand Māori rugby union team (in black) playing England Saxons in the 2007 Churchill Cup. Players now have to have their whakapapa verified.](/Images/godic/202502/20/Churchill_Cup_20070723.jpg")
Whakapapa (Māori pronunciation: [ˈfakapapa]), or genealogy, is a fundamental principle that permeates the whole of Māori culture. However, it is more than just a genealogical 'device'. It is in fact a paradigm of cultural discourse and provides the basis for establishing, enhancing, and even challenging relationships between individuals, whanau (families), hapū (local tribal entities) and iwi (regional tribal bodies)..