June 27, 2019
Apanui hapū had time to consider settlement
A member of Te Whānau a Apanui's hapū chairs group says hapū have had 15 months to become familiar with the various elements in a proposed settlement agreement.
Former MP Tuariki Delamere is claiming the iwi is being rushed to sign an agreement in principal tomorrow to suit the schedule of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little, and hapū would not have had time to read the 98-page document.
Willie Te Aho says he has participated in all the hui to discuss the agreement.
"The final document did only come out Friday but it's not as if that did come out to us cold. We've been spending the last 15 months building towards that document. My hapū is happy with that document. So are the other 11 hapū. That's why Minister Little was invited by the negotiating team to participate in the signing of the agreement in principle," he says.
Mr Te Aho also rejected Mr Delamere's call the remove two of the negotiators, as he says they were mandated by the iwi and have done a great job.
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