Te Herenga Waka in association with Te Roopū Whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi
Presents
WAITANGI TRIBUNAL CONFERENCE
Ko te Tōrino: Haere Whakamua, Haere Whakamuri
50 years of the Waitangi Tribunal
Thursday 9th - Friday 10th October 2025
Te Herenga Waka Marae, Wellington
Te Hōtaka
PROGRAMME
Day One – Thursday 9 October 2025
8.30-9.30am
Pōwhiri at Te Herenga Waka Marae, Kelburn Parade
9.30am-10am
Paramanawa (Ngā Mokopuna)
Session One: Venue – Te Tumu Herenga Waka Marae (Wharenui)
10am-12pm
Karakia Timatanga/Welcome – Dr Ruakere Hond
Introduction to Conference - Chief Judge Dr Caren Fox
Keynote speaker - Honourable Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie KNZM
Karanga Rā trailer
Kaupapa: Contribution to History Panel
Dr Paul Hamer
Dr Aroha Harris
Dr Carwyn Jones
Moderator: Dr Monty Soutar
12pm-1pm
Kai nui (Ngā Mokopuna)
Book Launch: ‘50 Years of the Waitangi Tribunal’ (Aho Ruruku)
Session Two: Venue – Te Tumu Herenga Waka Marae (Wharenui)
1pm-2.30pm
Kaupapa: Waitangi Tribunal’s influence on the making and interpretation of law in Aotearoa New Zealand
Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer KC
Hon Christopher Finlayson KC
Commentators:
Morgan Godfery
Ria Holmes
Moderator: Luke Fitzmaurice
2.30pm-3pm
Paramanawa (Ngā Mokopuna)
Session Three: Venue – Aho Ruruku (Ampitheatre)
3pm-5pm
Kaupapa: The impact of the work of the Waitangi Tribunal on iwi
Whanganui - Che Wilson
Tainui – Linda Te Aho
Ngāi Tahu – Dr Hana O’Regan
Ngā Puhi– Mere Mangu
Moderator: Derek Fox
Kaupapa: The impact of the work of the WT on the Crown & politics
Key note speaker: Professor Janine Hayward
Moderator: Dr Lara Greaves
5pm
Karakia whakamutunga - close Day One
Day Two – FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER 2025
9am
Karakia timatanga
Session four: Venue – Te Tumu Herenga Waka Marae (Wharenui)
9.10am-10.30am
Kaupapa: Justice models for hearing indigenous peoples claims and their relevance to New Zealand
The Honourable Justice Diane MacDonald - Member of the Supreme Court of British Columbia
Judge Yasmin Meer – Former president of the Land Claims Court, South Africa Lessons of Land Justice in South Africa and the South African Land Court (via zoom)
The Honourable Sir Joe Williams KNZM - Justice of the Supreme Court of New Zealand
Moderator: Professor Emeritus Dr David Williams
10.30am-11am
Paramanawa (Ngā Mokopuna)
Session five: Venue – Te Tumu Herenga Waka Marae (Wharenui)
11am-1pm
Kaupapa: Learnings for the Future
Matanuku Mahuika
Dr Season Mary Downs
Andrew Irwin
Craig Linkhorn
Moderator: Tania Simpson
Kaupapa: Artistic Presentation
Ati Teepa (Poet)
Kaupapa: He Ao Hou - Emerging Issues
Te Wehi Wright
Tania Waikato
Tanith Wirihana Te Waitohioterangi
Moderators: Tara Hauraki and Francis Cooke
1pm-2pm
Kai nui (Ngā Mokopuna)
Session six: Venue – Te Tumu Herenga Waka Marae (Wharenui)
2pm-3pm
Kaupapa: Role of the Waitangi Tribunal into the future
Annette Sykes
Professor Peter Adds
Eru Kapa Kingi
Moderator: Judge Michael Doogan
3pm-3.30pm
Summary of Conference
Judge Miharo Armstrong
Professor Rawinia Higgins
Moderator: Judge Sarah Reeves
3.30pm
Karakia whakakapinga
Day Two (Evening) – FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER 2025
WT 50th Anniversary Conference Dinner (ticketed)
6pm-late
Renouf Foyer, Sir Michael Fowler Centre
To mark this special occasion, we invite you to enjoy a three-course dinner and an evening of celebration featuring guest speaker, Dr Linda Smith, the ceremonial cutting of the birthday cake, and live entertainment by Hoani Hotene (2025 Billy T Comedy Award Winner) and The Groove Hut Band.