Skip navigation

Waitangi Tribunal Home Page

Waitangi Tribunal

Login to the extranet

Wairarapa Ki Tararua Introduction

Wai 863

Lake WairarapaInquiry district
The Wairarapa ki Tararua inquiry district covers the area from the Manawatu Gorge down the ranges to the South Wairarapa coast, up the Pacific coast to north of Cape Turnagain following the Tararua District council boundary to north of Norsewood and down the Ruahine Ranges to the Gorge.

Hearings and Tribunal members
Nine weeks of hearings occurred between March 2004 and March 2005. Wairarapa ki Tararua tribunal members Judge Carrie Wainwright, Professor Wharehuia Milroy, Dr Ranganui Walker and Dame Margaret Bazley, heard evidence and submissions on a total of 17 claims filed by members of Ngäti Kahungunu and Rangitäne hapü and other claimant groups.

Claims issues
The Tribunal grouped the issues raised in the 17 statements of claim into six main divisions:

  1. The relationship between Crown and Mäori from 1840 to 1865 with particular emphasis on the pre-1865 Crown purchases.
  2. The relationship between Crown and Mäori from 1865 to 1900, with particular emphasis on native land laws and the Native Land Court, Crown and private purchases, and Mäori political responses to these matters.
  3. Non-agrarian resources and the environment, with a particular emphasis on the Wairarapa Moana (Lakes Wairarapa and Onoke/Ferry), rivers, foreshore and seabed, and environmental management and degradation.
  4. Loss of land and resources in the twentieth century, with a particular emphasis on the impact of that loss and the question of what was ‘sufficient’.
  5. Management of heritage, sites of cultural significance, the environment, the coast, and the taking of land for public purposes, whether by central or local authorities.
  6. Issues specific to particular groups and whänau not covered in 1-5 above.

Report writing phase
With the hearing phase completed and final closing submissions filed in June 2005, the Tribunal is focussed on the report writing phase of the inquiry. This phase involves the Wairarapa ki Tararua Tribunal considering all of the evidence and submissions produced for the inquiry, and reporting in writing to the claimant community and the Crown on any findings and recommendations concerning the 17 statements of claim.

For further information contact the Waitangi Tribunal Registrar or the Wairarapa ki Tararua inquiry facilitator.Lake Wairarapa