Tainui v Coalcorp 1989

In June 1988, the Crown informed Tainui that it was to sell Coalcorp; the state-owned mining company Coalcorp was mining coal in Huntly, located in the Waikato district. All through that year despite attempts, Tainui was unable to negotiate regarding this issue with the crown.

Thus, on the 6th of March 1989, Tainui officially filed proceedings with the High Court to appeal against the transfer of coal mining licences and to protect the claim Tainui had lodged with the Waitangi Tribunal. 

Robert Mahuta, members of Tainui and the Tainui Māori Trust board with 1000 supporters travelled to Wellington in the Court of Appeal against the sale of Coalcorp. 

Dr Evelyn Stokes presented in two boxes copies of all papers relating to the case. Four of the volumes relate to plaintiffs and sixteen volumes relate to the defendants.