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Te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapu o Ngapuhi believes Treaty Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson may finally be willing to hear its alternate model for settling the northern iwi's historic claims.
Mr Finlayson summoned Te Kotahitanga leaders to a meeting in Auckland yesterday to discuss what has happened since the Waitangi Tribunal found flaws in the way the crown gave the Ngapuhi Runanga-backed Tuhoronuku the mandate to negotiate.
Co-chair Rudy Taylor says Te Kotahitanga has been meeting monthly for six years, and its approach is for a settlement which acknowledges Ngapuhi's distinct taiwhenua or regions while also upholding the mana of hapu and whanau.
"We looked at how do we get the terms of reference to understand about moving forward if we want to make that happen so we have a team ready to sit around the table with the crown and (Tuhoronuku trustee) Moana Tuwhare, My understanding is the minister has a really good understanding with her, he wants her to be there so we can get things moving forward, so I think this is going to happen within another fortnight," he says.
Mr Taylor says Tuhoronuku is split and it has also been compromised by accepting funding from the Ngapuhi Runanga.
Meanwhile the project manager for Tuhoronuku is to step down next month after eight years in the job because of a change in personal circumstances.
Tuhoronuku chair Hone Sadler says Lorraine Toki has made a significant contribution to Ngapuhi, managing the process of securing a mandate, appointing negotiators and getting the terms of negotiation.
Meanwhile the project manager for Tuhoronuku is to step down next month after eight years in the job because of a change in personal circumstances.
Tuhoronuku chair Hone Sadler says Lorraine Toki has made a significant contribution to Ngapuhi, managing the process of securing a mandate, appointing negotiators and getting the terms of negotiation.
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