May 10, 2017
Crown suspends Ngati Kahu mandate
The crown says it has suspended the mandate of Te Runanga o Ngati Kahu to negotiate settlement of the far north iwi’s historic treaty claims.
The runanga, led by University of Auckland professor Margaret Mutu, has long insisted on taking it's own approach to negotiations.
It is seeking a remedies hearing where it will ask the Waitangi Tribunal to order the return of various crown and state owned enterprise lands in the rohe, including parts of the former Aupouri state forest.
In a letter to the tribunal, crown lawyers say in June last year they asked the runanga to undertake a process to reconfirm its mandate, but this was not done.
It says there have been concerns from Ngati Kahu members about the mandate as far back as 2012.
Several hapu have applied to be represented in their own right at the hearing, and are taking a different approach to the runanga.
The Crown will reassess its approach to a Ngati Kahu mandate after the remedies hearing, taking into account any recommendations made by the Tribunal.
Copyright © 2017, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com