September 06, 2016
Chance for progress on Ngapuhi settlement
Chance for progress on Ngapuhi settlement
Te Taitokerau MP Kelvin Davis is welcoming crown acceptance of a new negotiating structure for Ngapuhi’s historic Treaty of Waitangi claims.
Treaty Negotiaitons Minister Christopher Finlayson has signed off on the main recommendations of the Maranga Mai report, which his officials worked on with negotiating body Tuhoronuku and its Te Kotahitanga critics as a way to overcome flaws in the mandating process.
The proposed structure aims to give hapu more say, but it’s unclear as yet how that will work.
Individual hapu are to be given considerable flexibility about the way they will choose representatives and work together.
Mr Davis says there is now the prospect of a settlement as early as 2018.
"Let’s put people’s personal pride to the side and get on with it and settle now because the north really needs a boost. We need our people to be forward thinking. We can't meander on our way like we are now. It's not doing anyone any good. We've got to get on with things. Congratulations to all the people who brought this together. Now let’s just do it," he says.
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