December 10, 2017
Fast and furious as Minister tackles Ngapuhi divide
It was Fast and Furious, the Ngapuhi version this weekend as Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little conducted six hui over two days to hear how hapu wanted the Northland tribe’s treaty settlement negotiations to proceed.
Rudy Taylor from Te Kotahitanga says hapu gave a clear message that mandated negotiating body Tuhoronuku did not speak for them and the way forward was to adopt the recommendations of the Maranga Mai report that would put regional clusters of hapu in charge.
Tuhoronuku chair Hone Sadler says it was good that hapu had the opportunity to vent but the crown should not feed expectations there could be a hapu by hapu settlement.
He believes Mr Little will not want to restart the mandate process, so the way ahead is to strengthen the mandate by encouraging agreement between Tuhoronuku and Te Kotahitanga.
In June former prime minister Bill English pulled the crown out of the process to allow the faction leaders to work out a way forward but Te Kotahitanga refused to engage.
Copyright © 2017, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com