History and impacts of Wai 262 – webinar

We all need to understand the origins, history and impacts of the Wai 262 Waitangi Tribunal claim on individuals and whanau, so that we can understand its broader implications in our science and research landscape. Panellists will talk about the injustices, issues, and tensions that resulted in the claim, and the subsequent Waitangi Tribunal report, along with the unresolved concerns that remain on the table to be addressed.

Facilitator: Joshua Te Kani

Panel:

Jessica Hutchings (from 2:10)
Aroha Mead (from 30:20)
Sheridan Waitai (from 1:19:22)
Questions and korero from 1:43:35

Wai 262 is one of the most significant and far-reaching claims considered by the Waitangi Tribunal, and current work to resolve the issues it raised will affect everyone participating in science and research in Aotearoa. This pan-tribal claim covered key issues of misappropriation of mātauranga Māori through research processes, the protection of Māori knowledge systems, the protection of native flora and fauna, and cultural intellectual property rights.

2021 marks the 30-year anniversary of the Wai 262 treaty claim submission, and 10 years since the tribunal report, Ko Aotearoa Tēnei, was issued. Many pioneers of this kaupapa are no longer with us, and we acknowledge the sacrifices they made in setting a strong foundation on which we can build. Descendants and representatives of the original claim, through Te Taumata Whakapūmau, continue to lead Māori engagement with the Crown on this kaupapa.

30 years on, how far have we come? Within our national science system there is significant variation in CRI and University policy (from which many of our National Science Challenges operate) and often limited understanding of issues such as:

• Effective safeguarding and protection of te reo and mātauranga Māori
• The role of national and international instruments affecting indigenous rights and indigenous organisms
• Data ownership, access, and control

The final stage of our National Science Challenges offers us all a unique opportunity to address these intergenerational issues, and advance the thinking, policy, capability and behaviours within Aotearoa’s science system.