August 16, 2017
Treaty policy not for changing
Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell says groups within iwi should learn to work together on treaty settlements rather than throw themselves into fruitless mandate disputes.
The Government is signing five agreements in principle this week, despite internal challenges in some iwi.
It also passed the third reading of the Ngati Kahu ki Whangaroa Settlement Bill despite the main settlement asset still being occupied by a dissenting group.
Mr Flavell says tensions between hapu and the wider iwi seem inevitable but there is room for all to participate.
"The policy’s been running for 20 plus years and everybody knows the rules, they can see how it is framed and of course large natural groups, we are not going to change that framework, and that is why it is at the heart of so many disputes. In the end it is about iwi working together and the funny thing is, once you get through this sort of raru people come together and just get on with it," he says.
FULL INTERVIEW TE URUROA FLAVELL
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