Flora and Fauna (Wai 262) Inquiry

The indigenous flora and fauna and cultural intellectual property (Wai 262) inquiry, presided over by former Tribunal chairperson Joe Williams, resumed hearings in August 2006. (The first presiding officer, Judge Richard Kearney, died in 2005).

Wai 262 is a claim to rights in respect of mātauranga Māori or Māori knowledge, and indigenous flora and fauna. The claimants say these rights are guaranteed under the Treaty of Waitangi. The claim raises issues in respect of intellectual property rights that have not been addressed before.

A statement of issues, Wai 262 2.314 and Wai 262 2.314(a),  was produced by the Tribunal in July 2006. The statement of issues set the parameters of the Tribunal’s inquiry.  The inquiry focuses primarily on contemporary issues.

Claimant update and refresher evidence was presented during hearings in August and September 2006. The Tribunal heard from interested persons in the week of September 25 to 29 2006. Crown evidence was heard in late December and late January. Closing submissions were heard in June 2007. The inquiry is now in the report-writing phase.

Please contact the Tribunal’s registrar or the Wai 262 inquiry claim coordinator (Jenny.Syme@justice.govt.nz) for further information.