Papatipu Runanga Tribal boundaries are defined in law in Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu (Declaration of Membership) Order 2001.
Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura
The takiwa of Te Runanga o Kaikoura centres on Takahanga and extends from Te Parinui o Whiti to the Hurunui River and inland to the Main Divide.
Te Ngāi Tuahuriri Runanga
The takiwa of Te Ngai Tuahuriri Runanga centres on Tuahiwi and extends from the Hurunui to Hakatere, sharing an interest with Arowhenua Runanga northwards to Rakaia, and thence inland to the Main Divide.
Rāpaki Rūnanga
The takiwa of Rapaki Runanga centres on Rapaki and includes the catchment of Whakaraupo and Te Kaituna.
Te Rūnanga o Koukourārata
The takiwa of Te Runanga o Koukourarata centres on Koukourarata and extends from Pohatu Pa to the shores of Te Waihora including Te Kaituna.
Wairewa Rūnanga
The takiwa of Wairewa Runanga centres on Wairewa and the catchment of the lake Te Wairewa and the hills and coast to the adjoining takiwa of Koukourarata, Onuku Runanga, and Taumutu Runanga.
Te Rūnanga o Onuku
The takiwa of Te Runanga o Onuku centres on Onuku and the hills and coasts of Akaroa to the adjoining takiwa of Te Runanga o Koukourarata and Wairewa Runanga.
Taumutu Rūnanga
The takiwa of Taumutu Runanga centres on Taumutu and the waters of Te Waihora and adjoining lands and shares a common interest with Te Ngai Tuahuriri Runanga and Te Runanga o Arowhenua in the area south to Hakatere.
Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua
The takiwa of Te Runanga o Arowhenua centres on Arowhenua and extends from Rakaia to Waitaki, sharing interests with Ngai Tuahuriri ki Kaiapoi between Hakatere and Rakaia, and thence inland to Aoraki and the Main Divide.
Te Rūnanga o Waihao
The takiwa of Te Runanga o Waihao centres on Wainono, sharing interests with Te Runanga o Arowhenua to Waitaki, and extends inland to Omarama and the Main Divide.
Te Runanga o Moeraki
The takiwa of Te Runanga o Moeraki centres on Moeraki and extends from Waitaki to Waihemo and inland to the Main Divide
Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki
The takiwa of Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki centres on Karitane and extends from Waihemo to Purehurehu and includes an interest in Otepoti and the greater harbour of Otakou. The takiwa extends inland to the Main Divide sharing an interest in the lakes and mountains to Whakatipu-Waitai with Runanga to the south.
Te Rūnanga o Otākou
The takiwa of Te Runanga o Otakou centres on Otakou and extends from Purehurehu to Te Matau and inland, sharing an interest in the lakes and mountains to the western coast with Runanga to the North and to the South.
Waihopai Rūnaka
The takiwa of Waihopai Runaka centres on Waihopai and extends northwards to Te Matau sharing an interest in the lakes and mountains to the western coast with other Murihiku Runanga and those located from Waihemo southwards.
Te Rūnanga o Awarua
The takiwa of Te Runanga o Awarua centres on Awarua and extends to the coasts and estuaries adjoining Waihopai sharing an interest in the lakes and mountains between Whakatipu-Waitai and Tawhititarere with other Murihiku Runanga and those located from Waihemo southwards.
Te Rūnanga o Oraka Aparima
The takiwa of Te Runanga o Oraka Aparima centres on Oraka and extends from Waimatuku to Tawhititarere sharing an interest in the lakes and mountains from Whakatipu-Waitai to Tawhititarere with other Murihiku Runanga and those located from Waihemo southwards.
Hokonui Rūnaka
The takiwa of Hokonui Runaka centres on the Hokonui region and includes a shared interest in the lakes and mountains between Whakatipu-Waitai and Tawhitarere with other Murihiku Runanga and those located from Waihemo southwards.
Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio
The takiwa of Te Runanga o Makaawhio is centred at Makaawhio and extends from the south bank of the Pouerua River to Piopiotahi and inland to the Main Divide together with a shared interest with Te Runaka o Kati Waewae in the area situated between the north bank of the Pouerua River and the south bank of the Hokitika River.
Te Rūnaka o Kati Waewae
The takiwa of Te Runaka o Kati Waewae is centred on Arahura and Hokitika and extends from the north bank of the Hokitika River to Kahuraki and inland to the Main Divide together with a shared interest with Te Runanga o Makaawhio in the area situated between the north bank of the Pouerua River and the south bank of the Hokitika River.