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The Crown Forestry Rental Trust has given approved client status to hapu claimants in Hokianga and Whangaroa.
The decision means the trust can fund the next hearing of Te Paparahi o Te Raki Inquiry.
Because of a dispute now before the High Court about how the Maori trustees on the Crown Forestry Rental Trust are appointed, the applications by the hapu collectives were the only items of business at the trust’s March meeting.
It says it has still not considered what will be the effect on claim funding of the Minister for Treaty Negotiations’ decision to recognise Tuhoronuku’s mandate to negotiate a settlement of Ngapuhi claims.
Critics of Tuhoronuku are concerned that in the past the trust has considered it should not fund parallel processes, so funding to support hearings ceases when negotiations start.
Meanwhile, Tuhoronuku will hold an information hui this evening at Whitiora Marae in Te Tii outlining the election and appointment process.
It replaces an earlier hui at Paihia which was cancelled because of protests.
Nominations for elections for a reconstituted Tuhoronuku close tomorrow.
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