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Ngapuhi settlement talks could be back on track after Treaty negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson held separate meetings with the two sides on Friday.
The claim has been in suspension for a year while the crown facilitator worked through a process designed to place the dissenting Te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapu Ngapuhi group at the table alongside Tuhoronuku, which holds the mandate to negotiate.
Tuhoronuku refused to resume talks until its concerns about representation of urban-based Ngapuhi and kaumatua were addressed.
The replacement of John Key with Bill English as prime minister and the elevation of Steven Joyce to Finance Minister may have changed the ground conditions.
At Friday’s hastily-called meetings Mr Finlayson has invited both groups to a hui on January 13 that he will chair.
Tuhoronuku chair Hone Sadler says he was pleased the Minister agreed to a face to face meeting, and he is confident progress can be made in the new year.
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