| Matter before the commission | Date of appointment | Date of report | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native lands and native land tenure | January 1909 | Commission of inquiry | |
| Timber and timber building industries | March 1909 | June 1909 | Commission |
| Police force in New Zealand | June 1909 | October 1909 | Royal commission |
| Hamilton Domain | May 1910 | Commission | |
| Waihou and Ohinemuri rivers | May 1910 | July 1910 | Commission |
| Auckland city and suburban electric tramways | May 1910 | Royal commission | |
| Whangarei abattoir site | March 1911 | Commission | |
| Kaiapoi reserve | April 1911 | Commission | |
| Mines – prevention of accidents, etc. | July 1911 | December 1911 | Royal commission |
| West Coast settlement reserves | April 1912 | Commission | |
| Hawera and New Plymouth railway | April 1912 | Commission | |
| Public service in New Zealand | May 1912 | August 1912 | Commission |
| Cost of living in New Zealand | May 1912 | August 1912 | Royal commission |
| Education | May 1912 | July 1912 | Commission |
| St Helens Maternity Hospital, Auckland | December 1912 | April 1913 | Commission |
| Public Trust Office | December 1912 | April 1913 | Commission |
| Westport Harbour Board | September 1913 | November 1913 | Commission |
| Sunnyside Mental Hospital | September 1913 | October 1913 | Commission |
| Kauri-gum reserves | March 1914 | July 1914 | Commission |
| Care and carriage of explosives in New Zealand | May 1914 | July 1914 | Royal commission |
| Mining districts in Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland | May 1914 | August 1914 | Royal commission |
| Transport improvements in Auckland | May 1914 | Commission | |
| Reserves for landless natives | June 1914 | August 1914 | Commission |
| Hauraki mining district and Te Aroha township | July 1914 | August 1914 | Royal commission |
| Regulation of trade and commerce | August 1914 | June 1915 | Royal commission |
| Rotorua tenures | September 1914 | October 1914 | Commission |
| Huntly mining accident | September 1914 | October 1914 | Royal commission |
| Valuation of land | November 1914 | February 1915 | Commission |
| Gaming | December 1914 | April 1915 | Commission |
| Education districts | April 1915 | June 1915 | Commission |
| Trentham camp | July 1915 | August 1915 | Commission |
| Waiau reserve | October 1915 | November 1915 | Commission |
| Foxton wharf and main trunk deviation | January 1916 | June 1916 | Commission |
| Hihianu block | November 1916 | February 1917 | Commission |
| Municipal leases | January 1917 | May 1917 | Commission |
| Railway rolling-stock | February 1917 | March 1917 | Commission |
| Wairau River | April 1917 | June 1917 | Commission |
| Auckland Post Office | July 1917 | September 1917 | Commission |
| Waikato River | September 1917 | October 1917 | Commission |
| Rangi Kerehoma | December 1917 | February 1918 | Commission |
| Defence Department expenditure | January 1918 | June 1918 | Royal commission |
| Mangata blocks nos. 1, 3, 4 | January 1918 | April 1918 | Commission |
| Waterside accidents | July 1918 | Commission | |
| Fisheries | October 1918 | Commission | |
| Influenza epidemic | January 1919 | May 1919 | Commission |
| Rivers Commission covering Maerewhenua, Waihou, Clutha, Aparima, Taieri, Rangitata, Waimakariri, Wairau, Wainu-uha, Orari, Ashley, Waihi | April 1919 | December 1919 – March 1921 | Commission |
| Samoan epidemic | May 1919 | July 1919 | Commission |
| Railway timetable | September 1919 | October 1919 | Commission |
| Trade between NZ and the Pacific Islands | February 1920 | May 1920 | Commission |
| Southern pastoral lands | April 1920 | June 1920 | Commission |
| Native land claims | June 1920 | November 1920 | Commission |
| Taupo tramway lands and timber | October 1920 | December 1920 | Commission |
| North Auckland railway routes | October 1920 | January 1921 | Commission |
| Racing | November 1920 | June 1921 | Commission |
| System of lands and inland waterways and other transport improvements in the Auckland District | December 1920 | Commission | |
| Hospitals | January 1921 | March 1921 | Commission |
| Customs tariffs in New Zealand | February 1921 | Commission | |
| Palmerston North railway facilities | February 1921 | April 1921 | Commission |
| Kauri-gum industry | February 1921 | June 1921 | Commission |
| Thames Harbour | March 1921 | July 1921 | Commission |
| Waihou and Ohinemuri rivers | July 1921 | September 1921 | Commission |
| Production, distribution, importation and price of cement | October 1921 | November 1921 | Commission |
| Rotorua-Taupo railway | May 1922 | Royal commission | |
| War pensions | September 1922 | October 1922 | Commission |
| Timber royalties | May 1923 | August 1923 | Commission |
| Kelvin Hospital | February 1924 | April 1924 | Commission |
| Land and income tax | April 1924 | May 1924 | Royal commission |
| Railways | October 1924 | December 1924 | Commission |
| Sale of Poverty Bay Farmers meat company to Messrs Vestry Bros | January 1925 | July 1925 | Royal commission |
| University education in New Zealand | April 1925 | August 1925 | Royal commission |
| Rangitaiki land drainage | April 1925 | June 1925 | Commission |
| Wharf in Tryphena Harbour | August 1925 | Commission | |
| Agricultural banks and rural credits | August 1925 | July 1926 | Royal commission |
| Maori model villages | May 1926 | July 1926 | Commission |
| Confiscated Maori lands and other grievances | September 1926 | June 1927 | Royal commission |
| Customs tariffs | November 1926 | August 1927 | Commission |
| Dobson Colliery | June 1927 | June 1927 | Royal commission |
| Napier Harbour Board | July 1927 | September 1927 | Royal commission |
| Western Samoa | September 1927 | November 1927 | Royal commission |
| Borough of Otaki | March 1928 | June 1928 | Commission |
| Auckland transport | April 1928 | June 1928 | Commission |
| Rating of farm lands in boroughs | July 1928 | August 1928 | Commission |
| Waikato-Maniapoto Native Land Court district | April 1929 | July 1929 | Royal commission |
| Ex-Soldiers rehabilitation | October 1929 | January 1930 | Commission |
| Waitemata Harbour transit facilities | October 1929 | April 1930 | Royal commission |
| Special land-tax | December 1929 | May 1930 | Royal commission |
| Workers’ compensation | April 1930 | Commission | |
| Railways | June 1930 | September 1930 | Commission |
| National expenditure | January 1932 | March 1932 | Commission |
| Ohai Railway Board | September 1932 | Commission | |
| Tariffs | May 1933 | March 1934 | Commission |
| Company promotion methods etc. | January 1934 | October 1934 | Commission |
| Native affairs | February 1934 | October 1934 | Commission |
| Dairy industry | April 1934 | October 1934 | Commission |
| Reconstruction of hospital districts – area I | October 1936 | Commission | |
| Reconstruction of hospital districts – area II | October 1936 | Commission | |
| Napier Hospital | May 1937 | Royal commission | |
| Care and treatment of patients by Wellington Hospital Board | April 1938 | Royal commission | |
| Orakei lands | June 1938 | November 1938 | Royal commission |
| Sheep-farming industry | July 1939 | September 1939 | Commission |
| Glen Afton collieries | October 1939 | February 1940 | Royal commission |
| Kaye’s mine | December 1940 | February 1941 | Royal commission |
| Loss of shipping by enemy action | January 1941 | Commission | |
| Milk-supply in the four metropolitan areas | March 1943 | Commission | |
| Works near the mouth of the Hutt River | March 1944 | Commission | |
| Apprenticeship and related matters | April 1944 | November 1944 | Commission |
| Licensing | January 1945 | August 1946 | Royal commission |
| Dairy industry stabilisation Account | January 1946 | July 1946 | Commission |
| Gaming and racing | March 1946 | December 1947 | Royal commission |
| Trans-harbour facilities in the Auckland metropolitan area | March 1946 | July 1946 | Royal commission |
| Surplus war assets | July 1946 | September 1946 | Royal commission |
| Surplus lands of the Crown – claims by Maori | October 1946 | October 1948 | Royal commission |
| Sheep-farming industry | August 1947 | June 1948 | Royal commission |
| Assessment of rentals under leases of the West Coast settlement reserves; Maori claims to Mokau, Mahia, Pukerou-orua Whata blocks | August 1947 | March 1948 to July 1948 | Royal commission |
| Ballantyne fire | December 1947 | August 1948 | Royal commission |
| Fresh meat supplies | April 1948 | July 1948 | Commission |
| Patents, designs and trade marks | April 1948 | Commission | |
| Treatment of press – Kaka air disaster | December 1948 | November 1949 | Commission |
| Auckland drainage | March 1949 | June 1949 | Commission |
| Leases of Maori land vested in the Maori land boards | November 1949 | June 1951 | Royal commission |
| Payments by Aotea District Maori Land Board – West Taupo timber lands, Tarawera and Tataraakina, Mohaka and Upouturi Blocks | December 1949 | July 1951 to October 1951 | Royal commission |
| Wanganui River – Maori claims to land | January 1950 | July 1950 | Royal commission |
| Death of aircraftsman W. H. Momo | February 1950 | Commission | |
| Waterfront industry | September 1950 | July 1952 | Royal commission |
| War pensions acts and regulations | October 1950 | Commission | |
| Meat export slaughterhouse in Southland | July 1951 | September 1951 | Royal commission |
| Auckland Harbour Bridge | August 1951 | Commission | |
| Railways | March 1952 | June 1952 | Royal commission |
| Edgecumbe township | March 1952 | Commission | |
| Prosecution of D. S. J. Weir | March 1952 | Commission | |
| Law relating to taxation of Maori authorities | May 1952 | August 1952 | Commission |
| Supply and sale of intoxicating liquor in Western Samoa | August 1952 | March 1953 | Commission |
| Foxton and Manawatu rivers | February 1953 | Commission | |
| Conduct of members of the police force | October 1953 | November 1954 | Commission |
| Deaths of J. W. McClymont and K. A. C Belworthy | February 1954 | Commission | |
| Tuberculin testing in town milk-supply herds | March 1954 | Commission | |
| Monetary, banking and credit systems in NZ | March 1955 | March 1956 | Royal commission |
| Accident on board HMNZS Black Prince | April 1955 | May 1955 | Commission |
| Alleged nuisances from fumes in the South Auckland metropolitan area | July 1955 | August 1955 | Commission |
| Prosecution of D. J. Ruku and M. C. Harris | July 1955 | September 1955 | Commission |
| Accident at Renown colliery | September 1955 | February 1956 | Commission |
| M. V. “Joyita” | December 1955 | February 1956 | Commission |
| Fluoridation of public water supplies | November 1956 | July 1957 | Commission |
| DIC scaffolding collapse | May 1957 | September 1957 | Royal commission |
| Local authority finance | October 1957 | September 1958 | Royal commission |
| Alteration of boundaries – Auckland metropolitan drainage district | February 1958 | Commission | |
| Accident at Westhaven coal mine | March 1958 | July 1958 | Commission |
| Meat industry | January 1959 | August 1959 | Commission |
| Distribution of electricity | February 1959 | Commission | |
| Compensation from the Auckland Harbour Bridge Authority | May 1959 | Commission | |
| Public service salary and wage scales – Western Samoa | July 1959 | Commission | |
| Accident at Auckland Farmers Freezing Co. Ltd., King’s Wharf | October 1959 | Commission | |
| Purchase of Canberra aircraft | August 1960 | October 1960 | Commission |
| State services in New Zealand | July 1961 | June 1962 | Royal commission |
| Improved access by land to the port of Tauranga and Bay of Plenty | August 1962 | February 1963 | Commission |
| Lower Waikato and Waipu rivers control | March 1963 | Commission | |
| Return of butter sold for consumption within New Zealand | April 1963 | July 1963 | Commission |
| Proposed transmission of electricity from Otahuhu to Henderson | May 1963 | August 1963 | Commission |
| Alleged nuisances in the Auckland metropolitan drainage district | December 1963 | January 1965 | Commission |
| Vocational training | December 1964 | Commission | |
| Explosive fire at Masterton | May 1965 | Commission | |
| Riot at Auckland Prison | July 1965 | Commission | |
| Riot at Christchurch Prison | July 1965 | Commission | |
| Security service | June 1966 | August 1966 | Commission |
| Accident compensation | September 1966 | Royal commission | |
| Strongman mine disaster | February 1967 | October 1967 | Commission |
| Salary and wage fixing procedures in the state services | February 1968 | August 1968 | Royal commission |
| Organisation of wildlife management | June 1968 | Commission | |
| Scientology | February 1969 | June 1969 | Commission |
| Horse racing, trotting and dog racing | August 1969 | Royal commission | |
| Social security | September 1969 | December 1971 | Royal commission |
| Housing | April 1970 | April 1971 | Commission |
| Lake Manapouri | April 1970 | October 1970 | Commission |
| Kaimai tunnel disaster | April 1970 | June 1970 | Commission |
| Shipping | May 1970 | June 1971 | Commission |
| Equal pay | January 1971 | September 1971 | Commission |
| Containerisation | May 1971 | June 1972 | Royal commission |
| Oakley Psychiatric Hospital | July 1971 | September 1971 | Commission |
| Salary and wage fixing procedures in the NZ state services | February 1972 | June 1972 | Royal commission |
| Hospitals and related services | February 1972 | Royal commission | |
| Dismissal of the editor of the New Zealand Listener | August 1972 | October 1972 | Commission |
| Parliamentary salaries and allowances | 1973 | 1973 | Royal commission |
| Auckland civil defence emergency | 1973 | 1973 | Commission |
| Meat industry | 1973 | 1974 | Commission |
| Sale of liquor in New Zealand | 1973 | 1975 | Royal commission |
| Maori reserved land | 1973 | 1975 | Commission |
| Future use of Rangatira B and Rangatira C blocks | 1974 | 1974 | Royal commission |
| Distribution of motor spirits and ancillary products | 1974 | 1976 | Commission |
| Harbour pilotage | 1974 | 1975 | Commission |
| Certain allegations | 1974 | February 1975 | Commission |
| Explosion and fire at Seaview, Hutt Valley | 1974 | July 1975 | Commission |
| Contraception, sterilisation and abortion | 1975 | 1977 | Royal commission |
| New Zealand Electricity Department house rents | 1976 | 1976 | Commission |
| Nuclear power generation | 1976 | 1978 | Royal commission |
| The courts | 1976 | 1978 | Royal commission |
| Heavy engineering industry | 1976 | 1978 | Commission |
| Alleged breach of confidentiality of the police file on the Honourable Colin James Moyle, MP | 1976 | 1978 | Commission |
| Discharge by the Director-General of Social Welfare and other officers of the Department of Social Welfare of their respective responsibilities in respect of a 13-year-old Niuean boy | 1977 | 1977 | Commission |
| Distribution of motor vehicle parts | 1977 | 1977 | Commission |
| Social facilities in the Waiouru camp community | 1977 | 1978 | Commission |
| Maori courts | 1978 | 1980 | Royal commission |
| Chiropractic | 1978 | 1979 | Commission |
| Wage relativities on New Zealand vessels | 1979 | 1979 | Commission |
| Abbotsford landslip disaster | 1979 | 1980 | Commission |
| Rescue and fire services at international airports | 1979 | 1980 | Commission |
| Taxation of travelling allowances | 1979 | 1980 | Commission |
| Freight forwarding industry | 1980 | 1980 | Commission |
| Crash on Mount Erebus, Antarctica, of a DC-10 aircraft operated by Air New Zealand Limited | 1980 | 1981 | Royal commission |
| Allegations of impropriety in respect of approval by the Marginal Lands Board of an application by James Maurice Fitzgerald and Audrey Fitzgerald | 1980 | 1980 | Commission |
| Circumstances of the convictions of Arthur Allan Thomas for the murders of David Harvey Crewe and Jeanette Lenore Crewe | 1980 | 1980 | Royal commission |
| Administration of the District Court at Wellington | 1982 | 1983 | Commission |
| Air traffic control services | 1982 | Commission | |
| Certain matters related to drug trafficking | 1982 | 1983 | Royal commission |
| Circumstances of the release of Ian David Donaldson from a psychiatric hospital and of his subsequent arrest and release on bail | 1983 | 1983 | Commission |
| Contractual arrangements entered into by the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand with its employees and into certain matters related to advertising | 1983 | 1984 | Commission |
| Industrial relations on the Whangarei refinery expansion project construction site | 1984 | 1984 | Commission |
| Broadcasting and related telecommunications | 1985 | 1986 | Royal commission |
| Electoral system | 1985 | 1986 | Royal commission |
| Social policy | 1986 | 1988 | Royal commission |
| Certain matters relating to taxation | 1994 | 1997 | Commission |
| Collapse of a viewing platform at Cave Creek near Punakaiki on the West Coast | 1995 | 1995 | Commission |
| Provision of computer system Known as the Integrated National Crime Information (INCIS) | 1999 | Commission | |
| Genetic modification | May 2000 | July 2002 | Royal commission |
| Police conduct | February 2004 | March 2007 | Commission |
| Auckland governance | October 2007 | March 2009 | Royal commission |
| Pike River coal mine tragedy | December 2010 | Royal commission | |
| Building failure caused by the Canterbury earthquakes | April 2011 | Royal commission |
This table lists all commissions of inquiry and royal commissions from 1909 until 2011. Commissions were held from 1855, but in 1908 the Commissions of Inquiry Act consolidated all previous legislation governing their operations. From that time, commissions were used to investigate a very wide range of issues.
Using this item
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Source: Alan C. Simpson, 'New Zealand royal commissions and commissions of inquiry, 1909–1972.' MA thesis, Victoria University of Wellington, 1973
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