August 05, 2020
Whangārei claimants fear settlement push
Ngāpuhi claimants in Whangārei are upset at attempts to resume settlement negotiations.
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations minister Andrew Little met separately with several claimant groups on Saturday to explain his intention to negotiate redress packages with regional clusters of hapū, while opening up a separate negotiation on the overall quantum or settlement amount.
In the meantime a large proportion of the expected quantum would be put in a sovereign fund so trustees can start growing it.
Nicki Wakefield, the administrator at Te Mana Motuhake a Rohe o Whangārei, says that approach will divide hapū and create great uncertainty.
Whangārei hapū want to wait for the Waitangi Tribunal report to come out.
"We presented our evidence. We presented out claims and in many cases the crown contested our claims so entering a negotiation space with the very same claim before we have the Waitangi Tribunal give their findings on whether our claims are well founded, it puts us in a weakened position," Ms Wakefield says.
She says the claimants want to see more resources going in to the tribunal so it can complete the reports.
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