Bitter recriminations about the collapse of an effort to bring together the various factions in Ngapuhi around a common strategy to negotiate historic treaty claims.

Te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapu o Ngapuhi co-chair Peter Tipene says engagement talks have collapsed with Tuhoronuku, the body set up to oversee negotiations.

At issue is what goes into the final Maranga Mai report.

Tuhoronuku insists a reshaped negotiating structure must include urban representatives, while Te Kotahitanga wants hapu alone in the driving seat.

"Tuhoronuku have sent out a resolution moved by Sonny Tau to take steps which cherry pick parts ot the various submissions, and there were more than 100 submissions, to essentially strengthen their control and shut out hapu from the whole process," Mr Tipene says.

The result will be a much smaller group, Te Hononga Iti, in total control over the process.