A ‘Cornerstone Decision’ : The Historical Significance of the Motunui-Waitara (Wai-6) Report

Abstract

On March 18, 1983, the Waitangi Tribunal released their report on the Motunui-Waitara (Wai- 6) claim. The Government’s swift rejection of the Tribunal’s recommendations sparked a public backlash that forced the Government to revise its position. While New Zealand historians agree that Wai-6 is an important report in the development of the Tribunal, as of yet none have paused long enough on the inquiry to recognise the breadth and depth of the claim’s impact. This thesis details the history of Te Āti Awa’s claim to demonstrate its historical significance. Throughout the thesis, multiple arguments will be advanced. Firstly, it will argue that understanding the collaboration between Te Āti Awa and other environmentally-focused movements in the Wai-6 claim helps historians gain a deeper understanding of social movements in New Zealand during the 1980s. In the case of Wai-6, Te Āti Awa lead the way and were supported by certain Pākehā groups who shared a common objective of protecting the environment from further pollution. The second argument explored during this thesis is that media coverage of the Wai-6 report played an important role in supporting Te Āti Awa’s claim and helping to disseminate information about their worldview and culture to Pākehā. Media coverage of the Wai-6 inquiry and report educated many Pākehā about the Treaty and helped pressure Muldoon’s Government to change their response to the Tribunal’s recommendations. Lastly, this thesis argues that the Wai-6 claim is a critical milestone in the development of the Tribunal, demonstrating the ways the Tribunal progressed from a largely inactive body into an important voice for the Treaty and Māori. In advancing these arguments, this thesis will demonstrate that attention to Wai-6 is essential for understanding developments with the Tribunal for Māori and Pākehā and the nation.