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Published 2/4/2025

Kia ora tātou,

The Waitangi Tribunal is commencing the second evidential wānanga for the wānanga ā-rohe phase of Tomokia ngā tatau o Matangireia – the Constitutional Kaupapa Inquiry (Wai 3300) from Monday 28 to Tuesday 29 April 2025 at Te Poho-o-Rāwiri Marae, Gisborne.

This is a kaupapa inquiry. Kaupapa inquiries hear claims that the Crown breached Te Tiriti o Waitangi concerning issues of national significance which affect Māori as a whole.

This inquiry will hear claims that the Crown breached the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi in relation to the constitutional system of Aotearoa. If those claims are upheld, causing prejudice to Māori, the Tribunal may make recommendations to the Crown on potential relief including how it should act consistently with Te Tiriti / the Treaty.

 The preliminary scope of the inquiry includes the following nine themes:

    • Mana motuhake, tino rangatiratanga, autonomy and self-government, tikanga.
    • Kāwanatanga, constitutional legitimacy and sovereignty, parliamentary sovereignty and systems, ngā ture pākehā.
    • Dual governance: the relationship between kāwanatanga and te mana Māori Motuhake.
    • Electoral rights and systems.
    • Local government and te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi.
    • Human rights and te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi.
    • Citizenship rights.
    • International treaty-making and rangatiratanga.
    • Ouster clauses in settlement legislation.

How to participate

As mentioned above, this inquiry is in its wānanga ā-rohe phase, which enables this Tribunal to hear from all parties interested in providing evidence as to Māori principles of constitutionalism. These principles or values are those that govern the Māori understanding of the themes for the inquiry.

For those who attend the wānanga, speak to staff about filing a statement of position on the principles or values of tikanga that you consider underpin Māori notions of constitutionality.  Also consider the proposed inquiry themes listed above. You are also invited to provide a position on any possible remedies for the inquiry. Please file any statement of position by 5pm, Monday 14 April 2025 by sending to the Registrar at WT.Registrar@justice.govt.nz so the views can be considered at the wānanga.

For more information:

Ngā mihi nui