November 05, 2012
Unfinished business could delay claim top up
Hauraki Waikato MP Nanaia Mahuta says collecting the top up for Tainui's treaty settlement isn't as simple as picking up the cheque.
The Government has confirmed it busted through the billion dollar cap for treaty settlements in the last financial move, triggering the relativity clause in the first two major historical claim settlements.
Tainui, which is guaranteed 17 percent of total settlements, is in line for another $70 million, while Ngāi Tahu gets about $68 million.
Ms Mahuta, whose father the late Sir Robert Mahuta was Tainui's chief negotiator, says Tainui will put the offer back to its people
"People might get swayed by the amount of dollars but I think the principle for Tainui will be around our outstanding claims to do with the harbours, Maioro and Wairoa, and then look at how relativity could help strengthen leverage to accelerate those particular claims," she says.
Ms Mahuta says the relativity clause is a tribute to the negotiators' foresight.
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