Waitangi Tribunal

Photograph by Leanne Boulton

The Tribunal Panel hearing the claims consists of Judge Ambler, Professor Sir Hirini Mead, John Baird, Dr Robyn Anderson and Dr Aroha Harris.

Major issues in the Rohe Pōtae inquiry include the Crown's relationship with the Kingitanga movement, the creation of the Rohe Pōtae, the construction of the main trunk railway through the district, the operation of the Native Land Court and the alienation of Māori land in the nineteenth century, the management of Māori land in the twentieth century, waterways, environmental impacts, and public works takings.

Research

The agreed casebook research programme for the inquiry was confirmed in January 2008. It provides for six assistance projects and about 20 main research projects, the details of which are outlined in paper 6.2.7 on the Wai 898 record of inquiry. The record of inquiry is available in the Te Rohe Pōtae document store on this website. Parties to the inquiry can request a login and password to this document store from the Waitangi Tribunal’s librarian via the ‘contact us’ section on this website.
Some research projects will be, or have been, commissioned by the Waitangi Tribunal and some by the Crown Forestry Rental Trust. The Tribunal has commissioned two of the assistance projects: the Māori Land Court block index and the statistical overview of land alienation. Reports commissioned by the Tribunal to date are:

• Political engagement, 1840–63 (paper 2.3.6)
• War and raupatu (paper 2.3.7)
• Political engagement and the Rohe Pōtae negotiations, mid-1860s to 1913 (paper 2.3.4)
• Land issues, 1840s–1907 (including old land claims) (paper 2.3.3)
• Railways (paper 2.3.10)
• Economic and socio-economic issues (paper 2.3.28)
• Local Government (paper 2.3.34)

Scoping reports completed by the Tribunal and available in the Te Rohe Pötae document store include:

• Quantifying Māori Land Alienation in the Te Rohe Pōtae inquiry district: Scoping Report, October 2008 (doc #A 11)
• Railways and hapū/iwi of the Te Rohe Pötae Inquiry district 1880-2008, November 2008 (doc #A13)
• Te Rohe Pōtae War and Raupatu scoping, November 2008 (doc #A14)
• Te Rohe Pōtae Political Engagement, 1840-1863, November 2008 (doc #A15)
• Te Rohe Pōtae Nineteenth Century Land Issues 1840-1907 (#A16)
• Scoping on economic and socio-economic issues, October 2009 (doc #A18)

Main reports completed by the Tribunal and available in the Te Rohe Pōtae document store include:

• Hapū and Iwi Land Transactions with the Crown and Europeans in Te Rohe Pōtae Inquiry District, c.1840-1865 preliminary report (#A19)
• Turongo: The North Island Main Trunk Railway and the Te Rohe Pōtae, 1870-2008, December 2009 (doc #A20)

Rangahaua Whanui Report

A two-volume Rangahaua Whanui overview report for the district, prepared by Cathy Marr for the Waitangi Tribunal in 1996, provides a useful introduction to the history of the area:

•  Volume I, entitled The Alienation of Maori Land in the Rohe Pōtae (Aotea Block), 1840–1920, covers land alienations before 1860, the decision to 'open up' the Rohe Pōtae, the 'compact' with the Government, Crown land purchasing in the 1890s, and alienations of Māori land between 1900 and 1920.
• Volume II, entitled The Alienation of Maori Land in the Rohe Pōtae (Aotea Block), 1900–1960, covers Māori land councils and land boards, Māori land under leasehold, sales of Māori land, compulsory land alienations, consolidation and development schemes, and Māori responses to land alienations.

Jane Luiten has prepared a research guide to local Te Rohe Pōtae historical sources, which is available from the document store. Other research resources will be added to the document store as they are completed.

Upcoming Events

Ngā Kōroro Tūku Iho

In mid-2009 Judge Ambler released a discussion paper to parties regarding the presentation of oral traditions.  This paper discussed whether the Tribunal process could accommodate traditional and oral evidence in a more appropriate manner and in an earlier timeframe than has been the case in previous Tribunal inquiries.  Judge Ambler wished for a more dynamic forum which is sympathetic to the tikanga of oral traditions.

Following kōrero at judicial conferences and submissions from claimants and counsel, the ‘ngā kōroro tūku iho’ hui process was established.  This was a series of five two-day hui and one three-day hui to hear oral traditions from hapū and iwi groups from across the Rohe Pōtae inquiry district. These were held on marae between March and June 2010. Each of the six hui brought together the tāngata whenua of a particular part of the district to present oral traditions which have been passed down about tribal identity, relations to the land and historical events.

Venues

Research Hui

Each researcher gave a short presentation on their research project and then opened up the floor to exchange information and ideas with Te Rohe Pōtae inquiry claimants. Draft project briefs for these reports were circulated to parties prior to the hui.

Further research Hui

Subsequent research hui are tentatively planned for: