Representing claimants in Waitangi Tribunal Kaupapa Inquiries.
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Representing claimants in Waitangi Tribunal Kaupapa Inquiries.
A contemporary claim issue concerns a breach of te Tiriti o Waitangi by the Crown that occurred after September 1992. Although the Kaupapa Inquiry into Māori military service is well under way, you can still take part in the others. Phone or email us if you have a contemporary claim issue or if you would like to find out more about these important claim opportunities. Legal aid is usually available. Get involved! Uphold the rights of your whānau, hapū and iwi.
The Wai 2700 Mana Wāhine Kaupapa Inquiry is examining the experiences of wāhine Māori and the impacts of Crown policies, laws and practices on mana wāhine, rangatiratanga, leadership and the ability of wāhine Māori to exercise their rights and responsibilities. The Inquiry is progressing through a series of pou, with claimant and technical evidence being presented to the Waitangi Tribunal.
In May 2026, the second and third hearing weeks of the Rangatiratanga Pou were held, with evidence presented by claimants and technical witnesses on matters including wāhine Māori leadership and representation, governance, resource management, kaitiakitanga, public health leadership and the impacts of colonisation on mana wāhine. A further hearing week is scheduled for 7–11 December 2026 in Wellington, which will consider Crown evidence and claimant reply evidence.
The Inquiry continues to progress the remaining pou, with further statements of issues and hearing arrangements to be developed as the Inquiry moves forward.
The Wai 2575 Health Services and Outcomes Kaupapa Inquiry (“Inquiry”) was organised into 3 stages by his Honour Judge Clark in 2017. These stages include:
a) Stage One examined the legislative and policy framework of the overall primary healthcare system and was reported on in 2019 in its Hauora Report.
b) Stage Two has been split into two Phases: The Disability phase which heard evidence from nearly 60 claims in hearings that were convened around the motu from 2022 until 2024.
Concluding the disability phase, the Tribunal recently released its Hauwhaikaha report. The next phase will examine the mental health and addiction sector.
c) The final stage will address remaining themes of national significance, including eligible historical claims.
Disability Phase Update
In September 2026, the Tribunal released its report from Phase 1 of Stage 2: Hauwhaikaha – The Disability System Report. The Hauwhaikaha Report includes claims regarding the disability system’s services and outcomes for taangata whaikaha. Our team is currently reviewing the report and preparing advice on its key findings, conclusions, recommendations made by the Tribunal to the Crown and the next steps for those claimants who participated in this phase of the Inquiry.
Mental Health and Addiction Phase
The parties are about to move shortly into the mental health and addiction phase. During this phase, the Tribunal will examine claims concerning Māori mental health and addictions, including issues to do with suicide and self-harm, and alcohol, tobacco and other drug substance abuse. While the Tribunal has not yet provided directions regarding planning for this phase; our team has begun working with claimants in preparation for this phase, focusing at the present time on a broad evaluation of legislation and policy across the mental health and addiction space.
Te Aka Whai Ora Priority Hearing
The Tribunal has released its report, Hautupua: Te Aka Whai Ora (Maaori Health Authority) Priority Report, Part 2 on 25 September 2026. The team is currently reviewing this report and will provide advice to those claimants and parties who participated in this priority hearing and assess the relevance of these findings and recommendations to the mental health and addiction phase of the Inquiry.
For more information about the inquiry, please email shyna@tamakilegal.com.
If you are a current client or thinking about contacting us in order to move your legal matter forward. Please do fill in our contact form and submit it, and we will get in touch with you.
Managing Director
Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Ngati Ruawaipu, Te Whanau-a-Apanui, Te Whakatohea, Ngati Rāhiri, Ngati Awa.
Darrell graduated from the University of Auckland in 1995 and has worked primarily as a Treaty claims lawyer since 1998.
He has appeared before the Waitangi Tribunal in many district inquiries and has also been involved in a number of urgent hearings before the Waitangi Tribunal. Darrell has represented applicants in the High Court in relation to takutai moana applications. Other areas of law that Darrell works within include Māori land law, and environmental law.