He aha te kaupapa o te pakirehua Mana Wāhine? What is the Mana Wāhine Kaupapa Inquiry?
The Waitangi Tribunal is hearing over 190 historical and contemporary claims which allege the Crown’s denial of mana wāhine has had serious consequences for the social, economic, cultural, and spiritual wellbeing of wāhine Māori and their access to leadership roles.
Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women is co-leading the Crown’s response to Wai 2700 – Mana Wāhine Kaupapa Inquiry alongside Te Puni Kōkiri. A key role is supporting claimant participation in all areas of the Inquiry process.
I te ahatia? What has been happening?
The Inquiry began with six tūāpapa (foundational) hearings. In the tūāpapa phase, evidence presented was intended to establish a picture of the life, experiences, and status of wāhine Māori prior to colonisation. Tūāpapa hearings proceeded regionally to ensure the Tribunal heard about wāhine Māori from a range of iwi and hapū. The hearings concluded in September 2022.
The current phase of the Inquiry includes a focus on research from the Waitangi Tribunal and claimants that will form the basis of the evidence that the Tribunal will consider in substantive hearings.
Ka tuku mihi atu nei mātou ki ngā kaikawe maha i hāpai i ngā whakawā tūāpapa. Manatū Wāhine acknowledges all those who were involved in bringing the tūāpapa hearings to completion: Te Rōpū Whakamana i Te Tiriti, claimants and their counsel, the various mana whenua who brought the kaupapa into their whare tīpuna, Te Tari Ture o te Karauna (Crown Law Office), our Crown agency stakeholders, and co-lead agency Te Puni Kōkiri. All have contributed to launching the Mana Wāhine Kaupapa Inquiry with mana and stability. We look forward to progressing the Inquiry alongside all of them.
Further information
For more information, visit the Mana Wāhine Kaupapa Inquiry page on the Waitangi Tribunal website.
If you have any pātai, email us at wai2700@women.govt.nz.