Waitangi Tribunal
Te Mata Law is one of the premier firms in the country which brings claims and grievances before the Waitangi Tribunal. We represent the largest client base of Waitangi Tribunal claimants in the country and we file the claims that matter.
Te Mata Law was responsible for filing and leading the claim for urgency that gave rise to the Wai 2915 Oranga Tamariki Inquiry – which we won.
Te Mata Law also took an active role in leading the Wai 2500 Military Veterans Inquiry by seeking to have evidence presented and heard by 28th (Māori) Battalion and other veterans promptly; leading to the first hearing held at Muriwai, Gisborne lead by Koro Nolan Raihania and Archbishop Brown Turei – and others.
Te Mata Law was also the first law firm to win i.e. have the Waitangi Tribunal find that land development schemes, in this instance the Okapu Land Development Scheme, constituted a breach of the Treaty and its principles.
Te Mata Law is heavily involved in presenting significant social justice issues pertinent not only to Māori but to all New Zealanders. In particularly Te Mata Law represents Wai 2624 the first and only claim to file significant pleadings and evidence concerning fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) a disability that affects tens of thousands of New Zealanders and approximately 2000 people every year.
Te Mata Law has also filed claims concerning the process to settle historical claims of state abuse and is actively engaged with the Ministry of Social Development in developing a process that is more ‘user friendly’ as well as Treaty and tikanga compliant.
Te Mata Law is actively involved in every Waitangi Tribunal Inquiry and represents many claims. If you want us to act for you, contact us here.