2. (modifier) holding counsel.
I ngā rā o mua, i te wā o te Pākehā kīanō i noho i ngā motu nei, he iwi rūnanga te Māori ki te rapu tikanga mō rātou, ā he iwi āta rapurapu i ngā mea e ora ai, e toa ai, ā e noho mana ai te Māori, ā he iwi rongo ki ō rātou rangatira, ā e ui ana mātou, kei hea te mea o ā te Pākehā kōrero e kōrero nei i te pāremata i rerekē atu i ā te Māori rūnanga o mua (TW 28/9/1878:479). / In former times, at the time when the Pākehā had not yet settled in these islands, the Māori were a people that held counsel to seek processes for themselves, and they were a people that carefully investigated the things whereby they would live, succeed and maintain their status, and they were a people who listened to their leaders, and we ask, what is it that Pākehā say in parliament that is different from what Māori did in councils in former times.
3. (noun) council, tribal council, assembly, board, boardroom, iwi authority - assemblies called to discuss issues of concern to iwi or the community.
Nā te rūnanga i Pēria i whakahaere te kāwanatanga o te rohe, me te whakawā ina te wānangatia ki roto i te whare rūnanga (TTR 1990:321). / The council at Pēria provided local government and also dispensed justice, after discussion in the meeting house.
4. (noun) legislative assembly.
Ko Te Mākarini te tangata nāna i whakapuaki tēnei whakaaro i roto i te Rūnanga o te Kāwanatanga, ā, whakapaingia ana e ngā Pākehā katoa o taua Rūnanga (TWM 26/9/1867:1). / Mr McLean was the person who expressed this view in the Legislative Assembly of the Government and it was approved by all the Pākehā members of that Legislative Assembly.
