May 16, 2018
Settlement compromises hurting mana
A Tauranga Moana iwi leader is calling for a reset of the treaty settlement process to fix injustices that have crept in.
Charlie Tawhiao from Ngai Te Rangi says the turn-out from all three Tauranga iwi at yesterday's march to parliament against the crown's overlapping claims policy shows widespread flax roots support for the kaupapa.
He says it's not just about Tauranga's concern Hauraki is being offered land in its rohe.
"The process has been leaving iwi leaders and negotiators up and down the country wondering whther the compromises they have been forced into making have actually been worth it. Where a compromise contradicts or is in conflict with the whole sense of identity of an iwi, then it isn't a compromise. it is an extinguishment of mana and rangatiratanga," Mr Tawhiao says.
He says Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little seems genuine in his concern to resperct tikanga in the settlement process, but he has been poorly advised by the same officials who have been undermining iwi rangatiratanga.
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