July 01, 2014
Hapu told not to be selfish
The negotiator for Taranaki iwi Te Atiawa says dissenting hapu need to accept settlements are about the interests of the whole iwi.
Te Atiawa Iwi Authority is holding consultation meetings around the country about the proposed $91 million settlement, but there is still division over issues such as the decision not to buy the Waitara Endowment Lands.
Wikitoria Keenan says a lot of the disputed issues can be worked through after the settlement, when the iwi is in a stronger legal and financial position to take on central and local government.
She says hapu need to remember they are part of a larger group.
"They’re looking at the settlement from their perspective and they are looking at what they can get out of it. The settlement is negotiated on behalf of the iwi. Every iwi member, whether they’re registered or not, that’s who the settlement is for. That’s who will enefit. The hapu were never going to get exactly what they wanted because we need to look at the iwi and what was in the best interests of the iwi as a whole," she says.
Wikitoria Keenan says after 15 years of negotiation the best deal is on the table, and it’s time for the iwi to sign and get on with determining its own future.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH WIKITORIA KEENAN CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MTk2NDA=
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