Waitangi Tribunal

In 2008, the Waitangi Tribunal received a number of requests to inquire into Treaty claims in the Taihape, Rangitīkei, Manawatū, Horowhenua, and Kāpiti areas. Some claims in this region were already in the process of being settled, with Ngāti Apa, Rangitāne ki Manawatū, and Ngāti Toa Rangatira already in negotiations with the Crown.

The Waitangi Tribunal holds consultative judicial conferences as the first step towards beginning an inquiry. The purpose of these conferences is to find out who are the main claimants and their spokespersons, which claimants have legal representation, how many claimants wish to participate in a Tribunal inquiry, what kind of inquiry process would be appropriate for the region, and what preparations claimants need to make to be ready for an inquiry. After these issues have been canvassed, appropriate names and boundaries for the inquiry districts are decided upon, before starting to prepare a research programme for the inquiry.

Inquiry District Boundaries

The western boundary of the Porirua ki Manawatū district extends to the Whangaehu River in the west and down the Kāpiti coast to near the Porirua harbour, including Mana and Kāpiti islands. The southern boundary follows the boundary of the Whanganui-ā-Tara inquiry district from the Tasman Sea to the Tararua Ranges. The eastern boundary follows the boundary of the Wairarapa ki Tararua inquiry district from the Tararua Ranges to the Ruahine Ranges. The northern boundary follows the northern boundaries of the 1849 Rangitīkei-Turakina purchase, the 1866 Rangitīkei-Manawatū purchase, and the 1864 Te Āhuatūranga purchase, from the Ruahine Ranges to the Whangaehu River.

Research Programme

Waitangi Tribunal staff members are working closely with Crown Forestry Rental Trust staff on assessing the current state of research in the Porirua ki Manawatū inquiry district.  A technical scoping report commissioned by the Crown Forestry Rental Trust was completed in May 2010. 

Existing research specifically developed for the Waitangi Tribunal includes the Rangahaua Whanui project on the Wellington district (Port Nicholson, Hutt Valley, Porirua, Rangitīkei, and Manawatū) by Dr Robyn Anderson and Keith Pickens (August 1996).

Appointment of Presiding Officer and Tribunal Member

On 2 July 2010 Chief Judge Isaac appointed Deputy Chief Judge Caren Fox as Presiding Officer in the Porirua ki Manawatū District Inquiry.

Professor Tamati Reedy was appointed as the Tribunal Member for Porirua ki Manawatū on 16 August 2010.