October 02, 2013
Claim research funder to close resource centres
The Crown Forestry Rental Trust is closing the regional resource centres it set up in Northland to help Te Paparahi o Te Raki claimants.
Chair Angela Foulkes says funding for hearings has been suspended since February, because of a dispute over interpretation of the trust deed.
Trustees appointed by the New Zealand Maori Council questioned the way the trust was funding the claim without designating any claimants as Approved Clients.
While some claimants have now sought Approved Client status, the trust has not considered the applications because of an argument about whether one of the trustees has a conflict of interest.
It’s one of a number of issues regarding how the trust is being run that is awaiting a High Court hearing.
Ms Foulkes says in the meantime it can’t keep funding the resource centre in Whangarei, Kaikohe, Kawakawa and Waipapa, and they will close in December.
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