March 31, 2014
Tuhoronuku election extended
Northland treaty settlement body Tuhoronuku has been forced to extend the closing date for its election nominations.
The body’s mandate to negotiate Ngapuhi’s claims is conditional on it holding fresh elections both to increase hapu representation and to make itself independent of Te Runanga o Ngapuhi.
Nominations for the hapu kaikorero, who will appoint the 15 hapu representatives, closed last month.
But Tuhoronuku’s lawyers yesterday told the Waitangi Tribunal, which is considering whether it should grant urgency to a claim opposing the crown’s settlement process in the north, that it had relented.
They said the crown asked it to consider re-opening and extending the nomination period so interested parties can consider submissions made to the Office of Treaty Settlements about the updated Tuhoronuku deed of mandate.
It will extend the deadline until April 17, even though interested parties have had since last July to decide whether to participate in the elections.
It says the election will be completed within the original four month timetable, and the extension should not be seen as a precedent for further delays.
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