The Waitangi Tribunal will hold an urgent hearing into claims made over the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

The Tribunal confirmed in December the issues for urgent inquiry.

They are whether or not the provisions in the TPPA relating to the Treaty of Waitangi provide effective protection of Māori interests, and what Māori input is required for the ratification of the TPPA to be compliant with the Crown’s obligations under the Treaty.

Next week the Tribunal will hear from the claimants and the Crown - and the evidence of three expert witnesses commissioned by the claimants, the Crown and the Tribunal respectively.

The inquiry is presided over by Judge Michael Doogan.

The Tribunal Panel is Emeritus Professor Sir Tamati Reedy, the Honourable Sir Douglas Kidd, David Cochrane and Tania Simpson.