The soon-to-open Ngai Tuhoe headquarters has received a grant of $222,583 to set up a tribal archival centre.
The fund comes from the Lottery Grants Board for projects of national significance relating to World War I.
Te Uru Taumatua aims to use the money to create a storage and archival space for its taonga or treasures.
It will be based in the tribe's new building, Te Wharehou o Tuhoe, which opens next month.
Iwi chair Tamati Kruger says archives such as old Maori Land Court records, voice recordings, and photographs will be housed there.
He says it will be the first tribal repository, which is very exciting.
Mr Kruger says Te Uru Taumatua has been very prudent in constructing the facility, which will be useful to tribal members and researchers.
He says documents will also be donated by film makers, researchers and historians.
