August 25, 2015
Finlayson rejects mayoral intervention


Treaty Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson has offered to meet Hauraki Mayor John Tregidga and other mayors in the region to update them on negotiations with Hauraki iwi.
Mr Tregida has called on Mr Finlayson to resume talks, which he says stalled in December when five of the iwi asked the Waitangi Tribunal to consider whether they should be included in Tauranga Moana settlements.
He says at that stage negotiations were 99 percent completed, and the settlement will make Hauraki iwi the council's largest landowners and ratepayers.
Mr Finlayson says it's wrong to say negotiations are almost complete, but good progress is being made.
The Government's policy is not to negotiate with iwi at the same time they are litigating against the Crown, so some iwi-specific and collective negotiations have been paused.
But talks continue with those iwi who didn't file with the tribunal, including Ngati Paoa, Ngati Hei, Ngati Whanaunga and Ngati Rahiri Tumutumu.
Mr Finlayson say he has appointed former Labour Party minister Rick Barker as the new chief crown negotiator for the region to bring a new perspective.
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