The Wai 262 kaupapa began when a group of Māori rights activists challenged the Crown about the policies and laws that were taking away Māori control over taonga and mātauranga Māori.
It was October 1991 and Saana Murray-Waitai (Ngāti Kuri), Del Wihongi (Te Rarawa), John Hippolite (Ngāti Koata), Tama Poata (Te-Whānau-o-Ruataupare, Ngāti Porou) Witi McMath (Ngāti Wai) and Kataraina Rimene (Ngāti Kahungunu) with the assistance of lawyer Moana Jackson (Ngāti Kahungunu), lodged the Native Flora and Fauna Claim with the Waitangi Tribunal.
The aspirations of the claim firmly asserts “Māori control over things Māori”. The claim essentially sought to restore tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake (Māori authority and self-determination) of the whānau, hapū and iwi of Aotearoa over taonga and mātauranga Māori (those things and values which we treasure, both intangible and tangible).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Taumata Whakapūmau also acknowledge the many people who have made a significant contribution to the claim.
Our Video He Ōhākī reminds us of these individual contributors who have passed
The claimants vision and aspiration seeks to restore “te tino rangatiratanga o te Iwi Māori in respect of flora and fauna and all of our taonga.” Taonga being those things and values which we treasure, material, non-material, tangible and intangible.