Te Aka Māori Dictionary defines it as "customary system of values and practices that have developed over time and are deeply embedded in the social context".
[3] Tikanga is translated into the English language with a wide range of meanings—culture, custom, ethic, etiquette, fashion, formality, lore, manner, meaning, mechanism, method, protocol, and style.
One view is that tikanga Māori 'controls interpersonal relationships' as it guides the interactions of meetings, and provides identity to individuals.
[5][2][6] Lawyers view contemporary tikanga Māori through the lens of customary law, which comes from an authority rather than a normative system.
[12] The report considers more than 20 Government departments and agencies and makes recommendations as to reforms of "laws, policies or practices relating to health, education, science, intellectual property, indigenous flora and fauna, resource management, conservation, the Māori language, arts and culture, heritage, and the involvement of Māori in the development of New Zealand’s positions on international instruments affecting indigenous rights.