The Wai 2660 Marine and Coastal Area (MACA) Inquiry
Ministerial visit by Andrew Little to Aotea and Kawhia harbour to meet with Ngāti Te Wehi and David Stone to discuss issues in relation to the harbour. Credit: Waikato-Tainui.
Te Mata Law represented four claims in the Wai 2660 Inquiry which drew to a close in February of 2022. This was an inquiry into the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011, the legislation that replaced the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act. The 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act completely removed recognition of Māori rights in the foreshore and seabed, and was the subject of large Māori protest.
The 2011 MACA Act restored some recognition of Māori rights in the foreshore and seabed by allowing Māori to gain "Customary Marine Title" and "Protected Customary Rights" over certain areas of the Foreshore and Seabed. However, the argument made by the claimants which Te Mata Law represent as well as many other claimants in this inquiry were that the rights available under the act are insufficient to grant Māori the rights over their moana that were promised in the Treaty.
Te Mata Law represented claims brought on behalf of several coastal hapū and iwi whose goal is to have the rangatiratanga over their marine rohe that was promised to them in the treaty recognised by the Crown. These claims include:
Wai 1857 a claim by Sheena Ross and others on behalf of Ngāti Korokoro, Te Pouka and Ngati Pou.
Wai 2612 a claim on behalf of Ngāti Te Wehi.
Wai 2812 a claim by Ned Tomlins on behalf of Ngāti Mihiroa
Wai 1789 a claim by Bella Arapera Savage on behalf of Te Whānau ā Hārawaka
The Wai 2660 Inquiry Report is due to be released by the Tribunal in mid-2022.
Read the Wai 1864 Statement of claim here.
Read the brief of evidence of Ian Shadrock, which discusses the hononga between Ngāti Te Wehi and the harbour of Aotea, here.
Ministerial visit by Andrew Little to Aotea and Kawhia harbour to meet with Ngāti Te Wehi and David Stone to discuss issues in relation to the harbour. Credit: Waikato-Tainui.
Hīkoi to parliament to protest the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act. The 2011 MACA Act replaced the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act.