A new research group being run by Maori communities in West Auckland is being described as a Kiwi first.

Urban Maori authority the Waipareira Trust is setting up the unit, in collaboration with Massey University.

Chief executive John Tamihere says it's the largest community-led research group in New Zealand history.

"It's to our communities, via communities for our communities sort of staff, rather than by the university, to the communities for university outcomes."

John Tamihere says the unit will gather information that universities are unable to collect.