East Coast Introduction

The East Coast inquiry (comprising at least 75 individual Wai-numbered claims), presided over by Judge S Te A Milroy, encompasses the claimant groups who state an affiliation to Ngati Porou, Uepohatu, Ruawaipu, Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Te Whanau-a-Apanui and other East Coast iwi and hapu. It covers an area from Gisborne in the south to just south of Cape Runaway in the north, and inland to the Raukumara Range and the Waipaoa River. It is a district inquiry.

Main issues in the inquiry are likely to include: the East Coast 'civil war' of 1860-74; Crown and private purchases of East Coast land in the 19th century, and the operations of the Native Land Court; Crown and private purchases in the 20th century, and land rating issues; the provision of social services; and environmental and resource issues.

The research stage of this inquiry is well advanced but much further research remains to be carried out. Hearings for this inquiry are therefore not expected to start before 2008.

The next East Coast district inquiry judicial conference will be held on Wednesday 23 January 2008 at the Marinaview Gisborne Conference Centre. A detailed agenda for the conference will be released in the New Year.