November 14, 2012
Decision reserved on Ngāti Toa claim challenge
A High Court judge has reserved his decision on whether Taranaki Whānui can force the Crown to change aspects of the Ngāti Toa settlement package.
Justice Joe Williams, a former Māori Land Court chief judge, says he will try to have his judgment out by the end of next week.
Ngāti Toa hopes to sign its $75 million historic treaty settlement in early December.
Philip Green, the lawyer for the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust, told the court that some of the properties offered to Ngāti Toa, including Taputeranga Island in Island Bay, were denied to Taranaki Whānui even though they had a stronger claim to them.
The Crown’s lawyer, Paul Radich, says the Crown must be able to settle overlapping claims, and it had consulted Taranaki Whānui.
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