It develops as a result of kinship rights and obligations, which also serve to strengthen each member of the kin group. It also extends to others to whom one develops a close familial friendship, or reciprocal relationship.

A sense of relationship, connection, and belonging. Whanaungatanga in History speaks to the practice of identifying oneself using whakapapa, and during this process forging links and connections with others. Also people, places, and other taonga who share a common whakapapa, with a particular focus on relationships.