November 29, 2012
Wakatu not allowed to jump queue
The Supreme Court has ruled out fast-tracking a challenge by Wakatu Incorporation that has delayed settlement of top of the South Island claims.
The trust lost its case in the High Court over the way the Crown dealt with Maori landowners in Nelson and Motueka amounted to breaches in fiduciary duty, trust law and good faith.
The Government has refused to finalise some Te Tau Ihu settlements because of the case, although Wakatu says its action is completely separate to the treaty settlement process.
Wakatu wanted to go direct to the Supreme Court, as was done in the Paki case over ownership of the Waikato River near Mangakino.
But the Court says Wakatu's claims are more extensive, and it would benefit from what the Court of Appeal has to say about them.
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