March 22, 2017
Hapu take aim at Whakatohea claim talks
The latest attempt to settle Whakatohea's historic claims could again be derailed by dissention within the Opotiki-based iwi.
Claimants who say they represent over 90 percent of the Whakatohea claimant community have asked the Waitangi Tribunal for an urgent hearing on the negotiation mandate given by the Crown in December to the Whakatohea Pre-settlement Claims Trust.
Whakatohea was put to the back of the settlement queue 20 years ago when it narrowly voted against a $40 million settlement offer.
Claimant Russell Hollis says in this latest round the crown recognised the trust's mandate despite a majority of submissions being opposed.
He says the tribunal tried to mediate, but the Pre-settlement Trust rejected all the options put to it.
He says claimants have been withdrawing their claims, and the trust can now speak for only two of the 301 claims.
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