Overview

The Identity and Culture Kaupapa Inquiry (Wai 3500) will hear claims concerning grievances relating to issues regarding identity and culture.

Inquiry progress

The inquiry commenced in September 2024 and is currently in its start-up phase (Wai 3500, #2.5.1)

The indicative inquiry scope was articulated by the then-Waitangi Tribunal Chairperson in April 2015, and includes:

Adoption, guardianship, wards, whāngai; custody and access control; coronial law and practices, burials; genetic modification; material culture: mokomokai, artefacts, heritage, museum collections, archives, monuments, films/audiovisual.

The Presiding Officer has confirmed inquiry scope will be limited to addressing historical and specific contemporary aspects of these issues which are not otherwise fully covered in the Ko Aotearoa Tēnei (Wai 262) report or in any district inquiry reports.

A Hui Whakatuwhera (opening ceremony) was held on 18 and 19 June 2025 at Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia.

Hui Whakatuwhera

We are excited to announce a Hui Whakatuwhera (opening event) to initiate the Kaupapa Inquiry into Identity and Culture (Wai 3500).

The Hui Whakatuwhera will take place at Tūrangawaewae Marae, Ngāruawāhia, on 18 – 19 June 2025. The event will start with pōwhiri at 9.30 am on 18 June.

What to expect

The purpose of the Hui Whakatuwhera is to give anyone who believes they may have a role to play in the inquiry an opportunity to introduce themselves and contribute their whakaaro to help lay the foundations of this inquiry.

The event is also an opportunity for you to meet the panel members who hold the responsibility of holding, caring for, and reporting on, the kōrero and whakaaro that many will share over the coming years.

During the course of the Hui Whakatuwhera we want to hear your thoughts on:

A name for the inquiry;
How we define or understand the concept of ’identity’ within the inquiry; and
How we define or understand the concept of ‘culture’ within the inquiry.

The Hui Whakatuwhera will be held at Tūrangawaewae Marae and will commence with a pōwhiri at 9.30 am on 18 June 2025. The Hui Whakatuwhera will close by 4 pm on 19 June 2025.

RSVP by 26 May 2025

To confirm your attendance please email WT.Registrar@justice.govt.nz with the following details:

Name (iwi, hapū, whānau).
Claim number or organisation (if relevant).
Number of attendees expected from your group/organisation.
If you are seeking to attend in a participatory or observational capacity.
If attending in a participatory role, which region or category you/your group will participate within.
- Te Tai Tokerau.
- Tāmaki Makaurau.
- Waiariki.
- Ikaroa-Rāwhiti.
- Te Tai Hauauru.
- Te Tai Tonga.
- Hauraki-Waikato.
- National Groups – i.e. organisations that are not geographically located.