April 11, 2013
Ngapuhi good to go for treaty talks
Negotiations between the Government and Ngapuhi on what is expected to be the last major settlement of historic treaty settlements could start next year.
Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson has written to the two factions in the northern tribe setting out a timetable for accepting the mandate of Te Rōpū ō Tuhoronuku, the negotiating body set up by the Ngapuhi Rūnanga.
Tuhoronuku has been under fire from dissenting hapū coming under the Kotahitanga banner, but Mr Finlayson says the September 2011 vote on its mandate indicated a significant level of support.
He says the mandate will be advertised around June for six weeks, and then a process will be held from September to December to elect representatives to the Tuhoronuku Independent Mandated Authority.
Tuhoronuku and Ngapuhi Chair Sonny Tau says a lot of work has gone into modifying the organisation’s structure to ensure its independence.
Mr Tau also welcomed this week’s decision by the Māori Appellate Court upholding a view the court could not intervene in mandating disputes.
He called on Ngāti Hine, the hapū that brought the case, to give up its strategy of litigating so the tribe can approach the crown in a united fashion.
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