Te Urewera District Inquiry

The Urewera Tribunal was appointed in early 2002. The members are Judge Pat Savage (presiding), Dr Ann Parsonson (historian), Joe Northover (kaumātua), and Joanne Morris (lawyer).

The Urewera Tribunal held 11 hearings of claimant evidence between November 2003 and February 2005 at Waimana, Waiohau, Ruatahuna, Murupara, Te Whaiti, Waikaremoana, Rangiahua, Ruatoki, and Maungapohatu. Crown evidence was heard at Taneatua in March and April 2005, and closing submissions by claimant and Crown counsel was presented at Ruatoki in June 2005.

Most of the 33 claims are from Ngāi Tūhoe. Other claimants include Ngāti Whare, Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Ruapani, Ngāti Haka Patuheuheu, and Ngāti Kahungunu.

The Tribunal is now in the process of writing its report on these claims. In April 2009, it released part I of a pre-publication version of the report.