This comes from the Maori language of New Zealand (Aoteoaroa), and like most terms has many possible meanings.
The meaning intended is "A member of the tribe of the Earth".
It is intended to indicate that all people are members of the same tribe.
We all belong to this place, this third rock from the sun.
We are, in a very real and scientific sense, all one big family living in the same place, and our survival may depend on us recognising this.
It is intended to get past the idea of national barriers, and to go beyond cultural barriers of real or imagined historical grievances and misunderstandings.
It is intended to indicate that first and foremost, we are all far more similar than we are different, however different we may be, and however important those differences may seem.
This site champions several ideas:
That we (self aware consciousnesses) are all valuable - irrespective of our economic contribution; and
That what is most important is to create systems that support every individual in self actualising to whatever level they choose.
In order to self actualise several things are important:
Money and monetary systems are valuable only in so far as they support these goals, and not as ends unto themselves.
Links to local duplicates: