Overview

Tomokia ngā tatau o Matangireia – the Constitutional Kaupapa Inquiry (Wai 3300) is a kaupapa inquiry that will hear claims relating to the constitution, local-government, and the electoral system.

Inquiry progress

Background

 The inquiry commenced in December 2022 (see Wai 3300, #2.5.1 for the memorandum-directions commencing the inquiry). The inquiry was constituted in response to the 314 claims filed raising constitutional issues.

 In April 2023, the Tribunal commissioned pou tikanga (experts in tikanga) and pou ture pākehā (experts in New Zealand law) to produce a report on a tikanga and Treaty-compliant process for hearing the claims of the Constitutional Kaupapa Inquiry (see Wai 3300, #2.3.1 for the memorandum-directions commissioning the pou).

 After the pou produced their report on 15 December 2023 (Pou Report), the Tribunal held two planning wānanga with parties to hear their feedback on the report and to discuss the design of the inquiry (see Wai 3300, #6.2.2 for the Pou Report).

 Wānanga ā-rohe phase

 In October 2024, following the two planning wānanga, the Tribunal commenced the wānanga ā-rohe phase of the inquiry, a series of six regional wānanga (see Wai 3300, #2.6.19). The purpose of the wānanga ā-rohe phase is to enable parties to provide evidence on the principles they consider underpin their notions of constitutionality, and to confirm the themes for inquiry.

 The Wai 3300 Tribunal has held five wānanga in the following locations:

1. Waikato-Tainui Endowed College in Ngāruawāhia, from 2 to 3 December 2024.
2. Te Poho-o-Rāwiri Marae in Gisborne, from 28 to 29 April 2025.
3. Waitangi Tribunal offices in Wellington, on 26 June 2025.
4. Whakatū Marae in Nelson, on 21 August 2025.
5. St Michael’s Anglican Church and Marae in Palmerston North, on 30 October 2025.

The Tribunal will hold a final wānanga from 1 to 4 December 2025 at Te Tii Marae in Waitangi.

At the conclusion of the wānanga ā-rohe phase, the Tribunal will release a report that captures the principles, themes, and remaining issues for inquiry raised during each wānanga. The report will be added to the record of inquiry to form a tūāpapa or foundation for the inquiry.

 A judicial conference to discuss and hear submissions on next steps will follow the release of the draft wānanga ā-rohe report. Parties will have an opportunity to discuss the report, as well as to seek any agreement between parties on the provisions of any solutions or relief to resolve thematic or claim issues.