The current phase for the Inquiryis focused on research that will form the basis of the evidence the Tribunal will consider in the substantive hearing phase.

Research commissioned by the Waitangi Tribunal

The Waitangi Tribunal’s research programme comprises of six reports:

  1. Overview Report One: Recognition of the Roles, Status, Knowledge, and Rangatiratanga of Wāhine Māori from 1840 to 1950.
  2. Overview Report Two: Equity and Disparities in Wellbeing for Wāhine Māori from 1950 to 2000.
  3. Contemporary Justice Issues for Wāhine Māori: Equity and Disparities in Wellbeing from 1990 to 2020.
  4. Wāhine Māori Access to Representation, Leadership, Governance, and Decision-Making Roles in the Public Sector from 1990 to 2020.
  5. Contemporary Employment and Education Issues for Wāhine Māori: Equity and Disparities from 1990 to 2020.
  6. Contemporary Economic Issues for Wāhine Māori: Recognition of Roles, Status, and Knowledge from 1990 to 2020.

An additional audio-visual research project, Takapou Whāriki, was commissioned in June 2023 to gather the oral accounts by wāhine Māori, including those involved in the Mana Wāhine Kaupapa Inquiry. This was completed March 2024.

Joint Research Committee (JRC)

Joint Research Committee Wai 2700

In 2020, a Joint Research Committee (JRC), comprised of representatives from the Mana Wāhine claimant community, claimant counsel, Crown counsel, Manatū Wāhine and Tribunal research staff, was formed to progress important areas of research on behalf of the claimants.

The JRC has planned projects in six research areas:

  • Mana Wāhine definitional report: Standalone definitional report on mana wāhine which will set out an ao Māori view of mana wāhine and provide definitions for concepts essential to mana wāhine.
  • A Remedies report: Scoping the range of remedies being sought within the Inquiry.
  • Ngā Pou Hine reports:
    • Land and climate - Whenua me Te Ao Tūroa: exploring how wāhine Māori have been treated in relation to the land their physical and physical connectedness.
    • Family - Whakapapa and Whānau: exploring the oranga (wellbeing) and intergenerational health of wāhine Māori and their whānau.
    • Leadership - Rangatiratanga: exploring the mana rangatiratanga of wāhine Māori and their leadership, exercise, and denial of their authority and status in decision-making roles.
    • Economy - Whai Rawa: focusing on the term of the economy and wāhine Māori enterprise and collective potential.

The Tendering and Evaluation Sub-Committee (TESCo) of the JRC invited researchers to apply to form research teams around one or more of the JRC’s Pou Hine Briefs in two Request for Tender (RFT) processes. The first closed in December 2022, and the second closed in March 2023. Research commenced in April 2023.

As the reports are published, we will update our website to provide links to the reports.

Manatū Wāhine has also supported researchers with collating data and information held by the Ministry and other Crown agencies. This process has ensured there is a co-ordinated response from the Crown when working with researchers on behalf of the claimant community.

If you have any pātai about this RFT process, email TESCO@women.govt.nz.

Note: content found on this webpage has been provided by the Tendering and Evaluation Sub-Committee of the Joint Research Committee. Manatū Wāhine is hosting this information on behalf of TESCo and the JRC. All content and information is authorised exclusively by TESCo on behalf of the JRC.