September 26, 2016
Treaty delays costing Ngapuhi
Te Taitokerau MP Kelvin Davis says Ngapuhi is losing millions of dollars through delays in settling its treaty claims.
Talks have been on hold for more almost a year while negotiating body Tuhoronuku worked with its Te Kotahitanga critics on a new structure that would give hapu more of a say in the outcome.
Now Tuhoronuku wants to put conditions on its acceptance of the Maranga Mai report, and Mr Davis says there is a risk Treaty Negotiations Minsiter Christopher Finlayson will withdraw its mandate and go back to square one.
It would be better if both parties found a way to come together in a united front, which is what Maranga Mai was supposed to achieve.
"Every month that we delay settlement is a million dollars lost in interest alone. In the 8 years alone that we have been fighting over who has the mandate and getting to the stage where we are at the moment. We've lost some $50m in interest, now that money could have been used to build houses, improve education and health outcomes for our people," Mr Davis says.
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