December 20, 2012
Ngāti Haua on fast track to settlement
A settlement for Ngāti Koroki Kahukura and fast track negotiations were on the table for signing at Maungatautari Marae near Cambridge yesterday.
Negotiator Willie Te Aho says the crown was at first unwilling to negotiate with Ngāti Koroki, but the persistence of the late Wally Papa means its mana over Maungatautari mountain and the Waikato River from Arapuni to Karapiro is now acknowledged.
He says neighbours Ngāti Haua are similarly resolute, as the terms of negotiation signed yesterday make clear.
"They’ve cut to the chase and said to the Crown this is what we're worth, these are the areas that we want, put a package around this and you've got a deal and we will get a deal done in seven months. It's an exciting trend and the leadership of the Minister in Charge of Treaty Negotiations, Chris Finlayson, and the Finance Minister Bill English needs to be acknowledged because they are the ones behind this new fast track process that says 'if you sit at the table with us, we'll put our cards on the table, you put your cards on the table, and we'll reach an agreement that normally takes three years in seven months”. Mr Te Aho says.
Ngāti Haua hopes to sign its settlement in July.
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