Waitangi Tribunal

Waitangi Tribunal
Te Rōpū Whakamana i te Tiriti
Agency overview
Formed 1975
Headquarters Wellington, New Zealand
Employees 60
Parent department Special Jurisdictions
Parent agency Ministry of Justice
Key document
Website Tribunal website

The Waitangi Tribunal (Māori: Te Rōpū Whakamana i te Tiriti) is a New Zealand permanent commission of inquiry established under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975. It is charged with investigating and making recommendations on claims brought by Māori relating to actions or omissions of the Crown, in the period largely since 1840, that breach the promises made in the Treaty of Waitangi.[1] The Tribunal is not a court of law;[2] therefore, the Tribunal's recommendations and findings are not binding on the Crown. They are sometimes ignored, for instance in the foreshore and seabed dispute. The tribunal has made binding rulings on events prior to 1840, such as the invasion of the Chatham Islands by Ngati Mutunga and Ngati Tama in 1835, and the subsequent subjugation of the Moriori people. Abuse included murder, rape, physical and psychological torture and long-term enslavement.[3]

The inquiry process contributes to the resolution of Treaty claims and to the reconciliation of outstanding issues between Māori and Pākehā. In 2014 the Tribunal found that the Maori had never intended to give up their sovereignty when they signed the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.

History

In 1975 protests from indigenous peoples about unresolved Treaty of Waitangi grievances had been increasing for some time, and the Tribunal was set up to provide a legal process for the investigation of those grievances.[4] The Honourable Matiu Rata was Minister of Māori Affairs in the early 1970s and the politician most responsible for the Tribunal's creation.[5]

Originally the Tribunal could investigate grievances only since 1975, but in 1985 a law change meant the Tribunal's jurisdiction was extended back to 1840, the date of the Waitangi Treaty.[6] The subsequent findings of many Treaty breaches by the Crown in various inquiries led to a public backlash against the Tribunal. The Tribunal has often been a political issue in the 1990s and 2000s.[7]

Originally a Tribunal investigation and report was a prerequisite for a Treaty settlement with the New Zealand Government. But in 1999, to speed up settlements, the government changed the process so that claimants could go straight to settlement with the Office of Treaty Settlements without engaging in the Tribunal process. This was an increasingly popular short-cut to settlement in the face of the slow Tribunal process. The deadline for submitting historical claims was 1 September 2008, but contemporary claims can still be filed.[7]

Notable tribunal inquiries

Taonga and the Wai 26 & 150 claim regarding radio frequencies

In June 1986, the Waitangi Tribunal received the Wai 26 claim that the Treaty of Waitangi was breached by the Crown proceeding to introduce legislation related to Māori language before the delivery of the Tribunal's Report on the Te Reo Maori Claim. As a consequence, the Māori people would be denied their claims for radio frequencies and a television channel.[8]

In June 1990 claim Wai 150 was lodged by Sir Graham Latimer on behalf of the New Zealand Māori Council. The claim was in respect of the Rangatiratanga over the allocation of radio frequencies; the claim being that in the absence of an agreement with the Māori, the sale of frequency management licences under the Radiocommunications Act 1989 would be in breach of the Treaty of Waitangi. The Waitangi Tribunal amalgamated the Wai 26 with the Wai 150 claim.[9] The final report of the Tribunal recommended that the Crown suspend the radio frequency tender process and proceed to negotiate with the Iwi.[10]

Ngāi Tahu claim

The Ngāi Tahu Maori Trust Board filed the claim with the Waitangi Tribunal in 1986. The claim covered nine different areas and was heard over two years from 1987. The Tribunal released its three-volume report in 1991 – at that time it was the tribunal's most comprehensive inquiry. It found that 'the Crown acted unconscionably and in repeated breach of the Treaty of Waitangi' in its land dealings with the tribe, and recommended substantial compensation. Ngāi Tahu also filed a claim in regards to commercial fisheries, in regards to which the Tribunal released its report in 1993. Ngāi Tahu settled with the Crown in 1998, and received $170 million in compensation, an apology, and the return of its sacred mountain Aoraki/Mount Cook (the tribe later gifted this back to the Nation).[11]

The Wai 262 claim in respect of mātauranga Māori

On 2 July 2011 the Tribunal released its long-awaited report into the Wai 262 claim: "Ko Aotearoa Tēnei" (‘This is Aotearoa’ or ‘This is New Zealand’).[12] The Wai 262 claim concerns the ownership of, and rights to, mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) in respect of indigenous flora and fauna. The Wai 262 claim, and the subsequent Ko Aotearoa Tēnei report, is unusual in Tribunal terms because of its wide scope and the contemporary nature of the issues being grappled with. It was the Tribunal's first 'whole-of-government' inquiry, and considers more than 20 government departments and agencies, and makes recommendations as to reforms of "laws, policies or practices relating to health, education, science, intellectual property, indigenous flora and fauna, resource management, conservation, the Māori language, arts and culture, heritage, and the involvement of Māori in the development of New Zealand’s positions on international instruments affecting indigenous rights."[13]

In the cover letter of the report, the Tribunal argues that:

“ "[w]hat we saw and heard in sittings over many years left us in no doubt that unless it is accepted that New Zealand has two founding cultures, not one; unless Māori culture and identity are valued in everything government says and does; and unless they are welcomed into the very centre of the way we do things in this country, nothing will change. Māori will continue to be perceived, and know they are perceived, as an alien and resented minority, a problem to be managed with a seemingly endless stream of taxpayer-funded programmes, but never solved."[13] ”

Water and geothermal rights inquiry

The New Zealand Māori Council brought the claim before the Tribunal in early 2012, arguing that the sale of 49 per cent of Mighty River Power (now Mercury Energy), Meridian Energy, and Genesis Energy would prejudice any possible future recognition of Māori rights in water and geothermal resources. On 1 August 2012, the Tribunal released a memorandum finding that the government should temporarily halt its asset sales programme until it had released its interim full report.[14] The pre-publications report was subsequently released on 24 August, and suggested that the government should postpone the asset sales programme until the issue had been resolved with Māori around the country. This finding was reached on the basis that, if the government were to proceed with the partial-privatisation programme, it would reduce its ability to resolve outstanding claims to water and geothermal rights. In terms of potential avenues for resolution, the Tribunal recommended a national hui be called so that all parties to the dispute could voice their positions.

“ "The Tribunal concluded that, in practical terms, the Crown will not be able to provide a meaningful form of rights recognition for Māori in respect of its water bodies after it sells the shares to private investors. Because it cannot be stated with certainty that any other commercial rights recognition will actually come to pass, and since the opportunity exists here and now, the Tribunal concludes that the sale should be delayed while an accommodation is reached with Māori."[15] ”

In response to the findings of The Tribunal, the National Government postponed the float of Mighty River Power until early 2013, but rejected calls for a national hui and the "shares plus" idea. Nevertheless, a hui was called for September 2012, but no representatives from the Government or the National Party attended. The issue was taken to court, with the courts ultimately ruling that the partial privatisation programme would not affect the Crown's ability to provide redress to Maori, so the sales could continue.

Te Paparahi o te Raki inquiry

The Tribunal, Te Paparahi o te Raki inquiry (Wai 1040)[16] is in the process of considering the Māori and Crown understandings of He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga / The Declaration of Independence 1835 and Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi 1840. This aspect of the inquiry raises issues as to the nature of sovereignty and whether the Māori signatories to the Treaty of Waitangi intended to transfer sovereignty.[17]

The first stage of the report was released in November 2014. It found that Māori chiefs never agreed to give up their sovereignty when they signed the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.[18] Tribunal manager Julie Tangaere said at the report's release to the Ngapuhi claimants:

“ "Your tupuna [ancestors] did not give away their mana at Waitangi, at Waimate, at Mangungu. They did not cede their sovereignty. This is the truth you have been waiting a long time to hear."[18] ”

Organizational structure and powers

Investigatory powers

The Waitangi Tribunal is not a court. Because it was established as a permanent commission of inquiry, its method of investigation differs significantly from that of a court in several important respects:

Key points

The Tribunal process is inquisitorial, not adversarial. It seeks to get to the truth of the matter. The aim is to determine whether a claim is well founded.

Tribunal members

The Tribunal may have a chairperson and up to 20 members at any one time.[22] Members are appointed by the Governor-General on behalf of the Queen on the recommendation of the Minister of Māori Affairs in consultation with the Minister of Justice, for a renewable term of up to three years. For specific inquiries, a panel is composed of three to seven members, at least one of whom must be Māori. The chairperson of the Waitangi Tribunal can also appoint a Māori Land Court judge to act as presiding officer.[23] This panel is then known as the Tribunal for that inquiry, for example the Central North Island Tribunal or the Taranaki Tribunal.

As of September 2012, the membership of the Tribunal was:[24]

Chairperson

Deputy Chairperson

Ordinary members

The Waitangi Tribunal Unit

The Waitangi Tribunal Unit is a special jurisdiction unit of the Ministry of Justice which provides support and services necessary for the Tribunal to do its work. Approximately 60 full-time staff work at the Tribunal, who are divided into the Research, Corporate and Support Services, Claims and Registrarial, Report Writing, and Editorial Teams.[25]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Waitangi Tribunal Introduction". Waitangi Tribunal. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  2. ↑ The NZ Legal System. McDowall and Webb. LexisNexis. 2006.
  3. ↑ M Belgrave. Maori Claims and Reinvented Myths. Auckland University Press, pp. 190-205, 2005
  4. 1 2 "Background of the Waitangi Tribunal". Waitangi Tribunal. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  5. ↑ Derby, Mark (13 July 2012). "Forming the Waitangi Tribunal, 1970s". Te Ara. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  6. ↑ "The Treaty debated - the Treaty in practice". New Zealand History online. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Waitangi Tribunal Created". NZhistory.net.nz. Ministry of Culture and Heritage. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  8. ↑ "Report of the Waitangi Tribunal on Claims Concerning the Allocation of Radio Frequencies". knowledge-basket.co.nz. Archived from the original on 15 July 2001.
  9. ↑ Report of the Waitangi Tribunal on Claims Concerning the Allocation of Radio Frequencies (Wai 26). Waitangi Tribunal. 1990. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  10. ↑ Report of the Waitangi Tribunal on Claims Concerning the Allocation of Radio Frequencies. Waitangi Tribunal.
  11. ↑ Ministry of Culture and Heritage. "The Ngai Tahu claim – the Treaty in practice". NZ History. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  12. ↑ "Time to Move beyond Grievance in Treaty Relationship". 2 July 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  13. 1 2 "Ko Aotearoa Tēnei" (PDF). Waitangi Tribunal. July 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  14. ↑ "Memorandum-,Directions Of The Tribunal" (PDF). Waitangi Tribunal. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  15. ↑ "Interim Waitangi Tribunal Report Released on the National Freshwater and Geothermal Resources Claim". 24 August 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  16. ↑ "Te Paparahi o Te Raki (Northland) inquiry". Waitangi-tribunal.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  17. ↑ Paul Moon (2002) Te Ara Ki Te Tiriti: The Path to the Treaty of Waitangi
  18. 1 2 "Ngapuhi 'never gave up sovereignty'". The Northland Age. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  19. ↑ NZ Legal System.Structure and Processes.Mc Dowell and Webb. LexisNexis.2006.
  20. ↑ Waitangi Tribunal FAQ
  21. ↑ Office of Treaty Settlements
  22. ↑ "Waitangi Tribunal Members: Introduction". Waitangi Tribunal. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  23. ↑ "Maori Land Court - Introduction". Waitangi Tribunal. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  24. ↑ "Waitangi Tribunal Members: Introduction". Waitangi Tribunal. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  25. ↑ "Waitangi Tribunal Unit Introduction". Waitangi Tribunal. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
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