progress with Treaty settlements, innovative forms of redress have emerged. These
have related to things such as recognition of mana and recognition of cultural
taonga.
47.
The Waitangi Tribunal’s WAI 26221 report on the Treaty rights of Māori as regards
indigenous flora, fauna and cultural taonga (which, among other things, includes
traditional knowledge and intellectual property as regards cultural ideas, design and
language), provides a framework for the better realisation in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Given the comparatively small size of Aotearoa New Zealand, and the extent of the
inquiry undertaken by the Tribunal, implementation of this framework should be
achievable. However, it is notable that, to date, a full Government response to WAI
262 has not yet been issued.
48.
Furthermore, there remains concern that the Government’s administration of the
historic claims settlement process, which gives preference to negotiating with ‘large
natural groupings’ (LNGs), has the effect of excluding smaller groups, such as hapū
and whānau, from enjoying their right to participate. In its 2016 submission to the
Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous People (EMRIP), the Monitoring
Mechanism of the Iwi Chairs Forum (MM) noted that:
In practice… this policy conflicts with one of the core government principles
upon which Treaty settlements are based - that in attempting to resolve
outstanding claims the Government should not create further injustices
…Serious concerns have been raised by Māori about this process with a number
of urgent claims being made to the Waitangi Tribunal22 providing evidence of a
lack of representativeness and accountability, unfair processes and
marginalisation of smaller groups. This has resulted in poor outcomes leading
to some claimant’s rights and interests not being adequately represented within
the settlement process.
49.
The MM further noted that the UN Human Rights Committee23, the UN Committee
on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights24 and two previous Special Rapporteurs on
the Rights of Indigenous People25 have recommended that the New Zealand
21
https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_68356606/KoAotearoaTeneiTT2Vol2W.pdf
For example, Waitangi Tribunal The Ngapuhi Mandate Inquiry Report (Wai 2490, 2015), Waitangi Tribunal The Te
Aroha Maunga Settlement Process Report (Wai 663, 2014) and Waitangi Tribunal The Final Report on the Impacts of
the Crown’s Treaty Settlement Policies on Te Arawa Waka and Other Tribes (Wai 1385, 2007).
23
Committee on Human Rights Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee: New Zealand 98th session
CCPR/C/NZL/CO/5 (2010) para 21
24
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Concluding observations of the Committee on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights: New Zealand 48th session E/C.12/NZL/CO/3 (2012) para 11.
25
Human Rights Council Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: The situation of Māori
people in New Zealand 18th session A/HRC/18/35/Add.4 (2011) paras 70-72 and Human Rights Council Report of the
22
12