June 08, 2017
Door open for Te Kotahitanga to show rangatiratanga
The chair of Ngapuhi claim negotiation body Tuhoronuku says the tribe needs to have a team in place to resume settlement talks as soon as possible after the election.
Prime Minister Bill English has pulled his Treaty Negotiaitons Minister and the Office of Treaty Settlements off the claim to allow the leaders and its opponents in Te Kotahitanga to agree to a new structure.
Hone Sadler says that doesn't mean starting from scratch, as a lot of work has already been done.
He says it's Ngapuhi's last chance and Tuhoronuku is ready for the challenge.
"In fact we have always opened the doors for Te Kotahitanga to come to talk to us. They have never done that. We have offered seats on Tuhoronuku board to appease them, so we have to try something else. What that is we will have to find out as we move forward." Mr Sadler says.
He says the intervention by crown agents hasn't worked so far and the withdrawal of officials is a chance for Ngapuhi to practice the rangatiratanga it talks about.
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