June 14, 2017
Tuhoronuku challenges Te Kotahitanga to show commitment to Ngapuhi settlement
Ngapuhi claim body Tuhoronuku says it wants to sit down with Te Kotahitanga leaders to discuss any issues they may have about its mandate to negotiate a settlement with the crown.
Chair Hone Sadler says the meeting can be held according to Ngapuhi tikanga, now that crown officials aren’t involved.
Tuhoronuku backs the decision by Prime Minister Bill English to withdraw the office of Treaty Settlements until after the election.
Te Kotahitanga sees the decision as a betrayal, after it had been given what it saw as a chance to overturn Tuhoronuku’s mandate through the Maranga Mai process overseen by crown facilitator Nigel Fyfe.
Mr Sadler says interference by officials in what should have been internal Ngapuhi decision making about the negotiations put back the Ngapuhi settlement several years.
He says after four years of consultation Ngapuhi gave Tuhoronuku an overwhelming mandate in 2011, which it still holds.
The Prime Minister has provided Ngapuhi a window of opportunity to develop a pathway forward by September/October this year and Tuhoronuku is interested in talking with those who are keen to move forward.
At a meeting of Tuhoronuku last Friday, the board accepted the resignation of Kara George as deputy chair and voted Ngapuhi Runanga chair Sonny Tau into that position.
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