Inquiry Progress

Hearings Stage

The inquiry is now in the hearing phase, in which evidence will be presented to the Tribunal over 14 hearing weeks.

The first hearing was held in Te Kuiti at Te Tokanganui-a-noho Marae from 5 - 9 November 2012. Three hearings have now been held, with week four commencing in Glenview, Hamilton on 8 April 2013. Hearings will run throughout 2013 - 2014, with a break over the winter months of 2013 and over the holiday period.

 Te Rohe Potae hearing dates

Hearing week	Dates
Week 4 (Te Wananga o Aotearoa)	8 – 12 April 2013
Week 5 (Te Ihingarangi Marae)	6 – 10 May 2013
Winter break
Week 6	9 – 13 September 2013
Week 7	7 – 11 October 2013
Week 8	4 – 8 November 2013
Week 9	9 – 13 December 2013
Christmas/Summer break
Week 10	March 2014
Week 11	April 2014
Week 12	May 2014
Winter break
Week 13 (closings)	September 2014
Week 14 (closings)	October 2014

Ngā Kōrero Tuku Iho o Te Rohe Pōtae

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 had been the case in previous Tribunal inquiries.  Judge Ambler wished for a more dynamic forum which was sympathetic to the tikanga of oral traditions.

Following kōrero at judicial conferences and submissions from claimants and counsel, the ‘Ngā Kōrero Tuku Iho’ hui process was established.  This was a series of six hui to hear oral traditions from hapū and iwi groups from across the Rohe Pōtae inquiry district. The first five hui spanned two days each. The sixth and final hui sat for three days. Hui 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.

Photograph by Leanne Boutlon - Marokopa Awa, April 2010