Editing Tino rangatiratanga (section)

== Origins and etymology ==
[[File:He Wakaputanga (Whakaputanga) o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni - The Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand pg1.jpg|thumb|The Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand, made to the British Resident in New Zealand on 28 October 1835. The phrase ''tino rangatiratanga'' can be seen in the first line of section one.]]
A {{Lang|Mi|[[rangatira]]}} is a chief, the nominalising suffix {{Lang|Mi|-tanga}} makes the word an abstract noun referring to the quality or attributes of chieftainship. The word is also translated as 'chiefly autonomy', or 'kingdom', referencing the 'chiefly authority' and domain of the chief.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=rangatiratanga |url=https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?&keywords=rangatiratanga |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Te Aka Māori Dictionary |language=en}}</ref>

{{Lang|Mi|Tino}} is used as an intensifier, indicating that something is true, genuine or unrivalled.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=tino |url=https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?keywords=tino |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Te Aka Māori Dictionary |language=en}}</ref> The addition in this context means the phrase can be translated as 'highest chieftainship'.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=314}}

The intention of the phrase was to "emphasize to a chief the Queen's intention to give the complete control according to ''their'' customs".<ref name=":0">Kawharu, I. H. (1989). ''Waitangi: Māori and Pākēha perspectives of the Treaty of Waitangi''. Auckland, New Zealand: Oxford University Press.</ref>{{Rp|page=319}} One English translation is 'absolute sovereignty', although many also refer to it as [[self-determination]],<ref>Awatere, D. (1982). Maori sovereignty. Broadsheet, 100, 38–42.</ref> [[autonomy]],<ref>{{cite report |author=Waitangi Tribunal |year=1996 |title=The Taranaki report: Kaupapa tuatahi (Wai 143) |location=Wellington, New Zealand |access-date=9 August 2010 |url=http://www.waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz/reports/downloadpdf.asp?reportid=3FECC540-D049-4DE6-A7F0-C26BCCDAB345.pdf}}</ref> or Māori independence.