More than 12 distinct iwi* fall either wholly or partly within the Region. These include (alphabetically) Muaūpoko, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Hauiti, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Rangitāne, Whanganui (also known as Te Ātihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi and including Ngāti Rangi, Tamaūpoko, Hinengākau, Tūpoho, Tamahaki). Te Iwi Mōrehu at Rātana, an amalgam within which most, if not all, of the country’s iwi* are represented, is also a significant presence in the Region.

Neke atu i te 12 ngā iwi kei roto katoa, ka hono mai rānei ki te Rohe. Arā (whakarārangi ā-pū nei) ko Muaūpoko, ko Ngāti Maniapoto, ko Ngā Rauru, ko Ngāti Apa, ko Ngāti Hauiti, ko Ngāti Kahungunu, ko Ngāti Maru, ko Ngāti Raukawa, ko Ngāti Tūwharetoa, ko Rangitāne, ko Whanganui (e karangatia nei ko Te Ātihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi - whai wāhi atu hoki ko Ngāti Rangi, ko Tamaūpoko, ko Hinengākau, ko Tūpoho, ko Tamahaki). Arā hoki te kohinga iwi o te motu, ko Te Iwi Mōrehu o Rātana, ka kaha kitea i roto tonu i te Rohe.

Māori in the Region represent or associate to one or more of the following groups relevant to resource management: whānau*, hapū* or iwi*, tribal authorities, marae, Māori land trusts, Māori incorporations and Waitangi Tribunal claimants. Other groupings present in the Region, but which may have a lesser role when dealing with resource management, include urban Māori, taurahere and Māori cultural/religious bodies. Many non-resident tribal members maintain an active presence in day-to-day iwi* or hapū* affairs, particularly with regard to environmental matters.

He kanohi kitea, he tangata whai pānga ngā Māori o te Rohe i roto i te whakahaere rauemi ki tētahi - ētahi rānei o ngā rōpū e whai ake nei: whānau, hapū, iwi, rūnanga, marae, Tarāti Whenua Māori, Kaporeihana Māori, kaitono ki te Taraipunara o Waitangi. Arā ētahi atu rōpū o te Rohe, engari he iti noa pea te wāhanga ki a rātou e pā ana ki te whakahaere rauemi, ehara tonu ko te hunga Māori noho tāone, ko ngā taurahere, me ngā rōpū whakahaere ā-tikanga nei, āhāhi nei hoki. Tokomaha ngā mema iwi kei wāhi kē e noho ana kei te kaha whai i ngā take o te iwi, hapū rānei e hāngai ana ki ngā kaupapa taiao.