February 08, 2023

Rapporteur needed to untangle Ngapuhi knot

Gideon Porter Posted On February 8, 2023

The chair of Te Rūnanga-ā-iwi-ō Ngāpuhi wants an independent mediator handle negotiations between Ngāpuhi hapu and the crown.

Wane Wharerau says it should be similar to a United Nations special rapporteur, would have mana with both parties.

That’s better than the crown in sole control.

“Why not have an independent group overseeing the process. We had the United Nations rapporteur over at one point – pointing the finger around some of the other issues that the crown had breached. You know, something like that? Why wouldn’t that work, and why is that not a more just process?” Mr Wharerau says.

He says Ngāpuhi’s many hapu need time to digest the Waitangi Tribunal’s latest findings on sovereignty and develop their positions on settlement issues.