April 17, 2018
Whakatohea mandate rush unfair to hapu
The Waitangi Tribunal has chastised the previous Government for trying to rush the Whakatohea settlement despite known divisions within the Opotiki-based iwi.
An agreement in principle was signed last August on the eve of the election and 20 years after a previous settlement offer was rejected.
Now the tribunal is recommending negotiations with the Whakatohea Pre-settlement Claims Trust to be halted temporarily while all of Whakatohea is given a chance to vote on how to proceed.
In its Whakatohea Mandate Inquiry Report released yesterday the tribunal said the National-led Government prioritised its political objective of concluding settlements by mid-2020 over a process that was fair to Whakatohea.
Presiding officer Judge Michael Doogan said the particular circumstances within the tribe in 2016 that were known to the Crown required more than the expedient of picking and backing the group considered most likely to achieve the Crown’s objective of a quick settlement.
The tribunal identified a lack of balance in the mandate process and said those opposed to the mandate have good reason to feel their concerns were not given a fair hearing.
It said Whakatohea must be given an opportunity to vote on a hapu basis, is consistent with the tikanga for mandate recognition that was endorsed by Whakato¯hea in 2007.
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little welcomed the report and said the recommendation Whakatohea has a say on next steps aligns well with a key Treaty settlement principle that the members of the iwi themselves must show support for a settlement before it can be concluded.
He said the Tribunal acknowledged that the package on the table is a good package but there are some concerns about the process.
Copyright © 2018, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com