Te Urewera is an area of the central North Island of New Zealand. Rough, sparsely populated hill country to the northeast of Lake Taupo, it is the historical home of Tūhoe, a Māori iwi (tribe) known for their controversial stance on Māori sovereignty. Ownership of Te Urewera is contested, with Tūhoe claiming historical ownership.
The middle of Te Urewera is located close to Lake Waikaremoana, and much of the land is contained within Te Urewera National Park. Other than the park, the main industry in the district is forestry, centered on the settlement of Murupara. The area is fairly isolated as well as being sparsely populated, with only one major arterial road, the inland route from Wairoa to Rotorua, crossing it.
Because of its isolation and dense forest, Te Urewera remained largely untouched by British colonists until the early 20th century; in the 1880s it was still in effect under Māori control. Like the King Country at the time, few Pākehā were prepared to risk entering Te Urewera.
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