July 31, 2018
Orakei meddling blights future relations
New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is warning Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei's opposition to the Hauraki settlement will do long term damage to iwi relations.
Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little has indicated he is ready to sing the Hauraki deed of settlement, despite the Supreme Court being yet to rule on whether the Orakei hapu can get a judicial review of central Auckland properties being included in the redress.
Mr Jones says he's concerned at reports Orakei has funded the opposition by Tauranga Moana iwi Ngai Te Rangi, but those relationships can be repaired.
He's not so sure about Tamaki Makaurau, where Hauraki iwi are keen to get started while Orakei has a billion dollars on its balance sheet.
"Ngāti Paoa have always had interests in the Tāmaki Makaurau area. I as a Ngāpuhi nui tonu person know that, so I hope we see less litigation from the Orakei hapu and more focus on sticking to their knitting and not trying to blight the opportunities of Hauraki in Auckland. I think it's a waste of money and I think it's a very bleak image that hapu is creating for itself," Mr Jones says.
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