[citation needed] Ngāriki Kaipūtahi is a sovereign tribe with its own lands, laws, traditions and form of government centered on an ancient pattern of Ariki (High Born) and Rangatira (leaders) of chiefly lineage.
Then when the Ariki descended to earth the lineage continued down through the children of the Ariki who are the earliest inhabitants of Aotearoa, pre-dating by some 500 years the contemporary concept of 'Te Māori', the Maori people, as connected to the major waka migrations of the "Great Fleet".
[2][dubious – discuss] While there have been a few tribes descended from or recognizing the Ariki tradition, including Nga Ariki (of Ngati Apa), Ngariki Rotoawe (Turanga - no longer existent), Ngariki Po (Turanga - no longer existent), Ngāriki Kaipūtahi are one of remaining active tribes that holds its Mana Motuhake (authority) as direct descendants from these original peoples of Aotearoa called by various names 'Te Ariki', 'Moriori', 'Panenehu', and 'Turehu'.
[2][dubious – discuss] In its contemporary form, Te Iwi o Ngā Ariki Kaipūtahi consists of 51 whanau (family groups) organized around a central tribal government made up of three branches: Kahui Ariki (judicial), Kahui Rangatira (legislative), and Taua (executive), as established by a constitution on 29 January 2006.
The mountain is Maungahaumia,The river is Mangatu,The people are Rawiri Tamanui,The marae is Mangatu,The (meeting) house is Te Ngawari,The iwi is Ngā Ariki Kaipūtahi.Ngāriki Kaiputahi Whānau Trust is recognised as an iwi authority for the purposes of the Resource Management Act, and represents Ngāriki Kaiputahi hapu in the resource consent process.