July 05, 2019
Mahaki counts claim cost as Ruru laid to rest
A treaty lawyer says the delays and stress in the treaty claim process is killing people.
Te Aitanga a Māhaki this week laid to rest lead claimant John Ruru, who led both the tribal claim and a claim for return of land taken for the Mangatū Forest.
He was 81.
Willie Te Aho says it's a huge loss to the East Coast iwi.
Mr Ruru filed his claims in 1991 and they were heard in 2000, but there is still no settlement because the Waitangi Tribunal refused to use its power to order the return of state owned enterprise land.
The Supreme Court ordered the tribunal to reconsider, and a remedies hearing will be held later this month.
"Hopefully we can make way and get a binding recommendation that's favourable this year so that we can complete the process. These treaty settlements, they're a killer process. The longer they take the more that die and I'm absolutely keen with every settlement I'm involved with where the people want to settle that we get through it as quickly as we can because John's loss is a timely reminder that this process kills our people," Mr Te Aho says.
Copyright © 2019, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com