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Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell hopes the Waitangi Tribunal’s stage one report on Te Paparahi o Te Raki or Northland claims cal help Ngapuhi come together on a settlement.
The report covers issues around the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and concludes that rangatira did not willingly sign away their power and control even if the crown subsequently acted as if they did.
Mr Flavell says the report should inform discussion on constitutional issues, but it may be of limited use in resolving divisions on how the claims should be settled.
"It’s my view that whether or not anyone ceded sovereignty, that is always going to be a debate. The question is whether Ngapuhi can come together to consider a package presented by the crown that might be a foot up to dealing with some of the issues in the north, that is the substantive issue for me," he says.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH TE URUROA FLAVELL CLICK ON THE LINK
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