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The chair of Ngapuhi’s Tuhoronuku claim settlement body, Sonnny Tau, has brushed off an attempt by new Tai Tokerau District Maori Council chair Rihari Dargaville to insert himself in the process.
Mr Dargaville offered to facilitate a meeting between Tuhoronuku and estranged hapu who don’t accept its mandate to negotiate with the crown.
Tuhoronuku’s deputy chair Sam Napia indicated the board would accept the invitation, but Mr Tau says those comments were misconstrued.
He says Tuhoronuku is not in competition with any other group for Ngapuhi’s mandate and it will not debate the issue.
It is also unwilling to share a stage with Te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapu o Ngapuhi.
Tuhoronuku is holding consultation hui with its hapu clusters from the 12th to the 15th of May as its negotiators prepare a case book of claims it wants the crown to address.
He said Mr Dargaville was welcome to attend the hui, but there was no need for a referee.
After the hui there will be another round of elections for those hapu which have yet to elect a hapu kaikorero on to Tuhoronuku.
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