Iwi Importance Predicts Systems Justification and Life Satisfaction Among Māori

This study examined the views of 6,391 Māori, the Indigenous people of New Zealand, centring on the importance they place on their iwi (tribe or tribes) in forming their self-identity. Māori ancestors, as skilled navigators, were the first to settle in Aotearoa (Anderson, 2016). Kinship structures were pivotal in their survival during oceanic exploration and the following colonisation (Mika et al., 2019, 2022). Set against this backdrop and drawing on System Justification Theory, participants were asked to rate the significance of their iwi to their self-perception on a scale from 1 (not important) to 7 (very important). The results highlighted a sophisticated relationship between Māori perceptions of iwi importance and different dimensions of well-being (specifically, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and increased psychological distress). For those who regard their iwi as important/very important, there was a positive correlation with self-esteem. However, the influence of tribal importance on life satisfaction emerged as more multifaceted. Further investigation showed that views on systemic inequality influence this association. In particular, Māori who view their iwi, or even multiple iwi, as vital to their identity were more critical of New Zealand’s prevailing social and political structures. This heightened awareness of systemic challenges was linked with decreased self-esteem, lower life satisfaction, and increased psychological distress. Consequently, while acknowledging the importance of one’s iwi brings psychological advantages, the study suggests this recognition might be paired with a heightened consciousness of wider societal disparities, potentially impacting the overall life satisfaction of Māori.