September 18, 2017
Landcorp election offer bad faith
National’s promise to ballot off Landcorp farms to young farmers will be seen as bad faith by the crown if carried through, according to a former associate treaty negotiations minister and hapu leader.
Mita Ririnui’s Ngati Whakahemo hapu is still fighting to get back its former whenua Wharere in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, which the state-owned farmer sold after receiving wrong advice from the Office of Treaty Settlements that the hapu’s claims were extinguished by a settlement with Te Arawa.
He says many iwi were told Landcorp properties could not be part of the settlements because they were vital parts of the business, only to see them considered surplus once the claims were dealt with.
National will give the lucky young farmers lease-to-buy agreements.
Primary industries spokesperson Nathan Guy says it did not discuss the proposal with the Iwi Leaders Forum because it was an election commitment.
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