June 07, 2018
Hui effort to break Ngapuhi stalemate
The leaders of rival Ngapuhi groups Tuhoronuku and Te Kotahitanga are meeting Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little today as frustrations build over the stalemated negotiations.
The minister has to decide whether to resume talks with Tuhoronuku, which holds the mandate to negotiate a settlement of historic claims, seek a modification of the mandate to appease Te Koitahitanga concerns about the influence of the Ngapuhi Runanga, or attempt to start afresh.
There has been media silence about first four meetings with the minister, but Te Kotahitanga co-chair Pita Tipene intends to report back to followers at a hui in Ngawha on Saturday.
"We've entered into those meetings with every good faith. We've tried our best to find a way through. This beiunbg the fifth hui, I think you can read between the lines that things haven't been going as well as they could have gone," Mr Tipene says.
The hui on Saturday will also hear from Tauranga Moana iwi about their concerns about the settlement process.
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