Thanks for the response and interesting link, Max. It seems that the differences between the NZ Maori and Australian Aboriginal situations are not as great as I original assumed, at least on the issues of tribal languages, tribal names and the difficulties associated with finding a generic term to be applied to and accepted by the indigenous population.

In light of a previous exchange about Whakapapa, I was alarmed to read in the article you linked that it apparently means 'genealogy'.