February 19, 2014
Ngapuhi mandate row predictable
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says the Government seems prepared to steamroll over legitimate objections in its search for a settlement to Ngapuhi’s historic claims.
The Government says it is accepting the mandate of Te Roopu o Tuhoronuku, a group originally set up by the Ngapuhi Runanga to negotiate the claims.
It has set conditions, including adding more hapu representatives and requiring a fresh election before talks start.
But Mr Peters, who is from Ngati Wai, says it’s clear from the continuing opposition that more work is still needed on the negotiation process.
"I always believed when they got to Ngapuhi there were going to be mandating issues, and it is clear they intend to steamroll over it and carry on as before. Some up north have got themselves extricated from this Ngapuhi claim and are settling separately, so what you’ve got there is what’s left, and whatever’s left is not as cohesive and as authoritative as they would like to suggest," he says.
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