August 10, 2018
Settlement roadblock as Little heads north
Te Kotahitanga co-chair Pita Tipene from Ngati Hine has promised to continue to stand in the way of a united Ngapuhi settlement.
The Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister heads north this weekend to present proposals for resuming talks on a
settlement of Ngapuhi’s historic claims.
Since March Andrew Little has met six times with Mr Tipene, his co-chair Rudy Taylor, and Hone Sadler and Sonny Tau from mandated negotiating body Tuhoronuku, in an attempt to find a basis for agreement.
Mr Tipene says he was unable to get his way in those meetings, so he’s prepared to go back to court or the Waitangi Tribunal to block the Minister’s plan.
"He wants one entity to negotiate on behalf of all of Ngapuhi and moreover one entity to receive all of the redress, whatever the amount of that cash quantum is. The hapu of Ngapuhi want it through six entities all working together as outlined in Maranga Mai," he says.
Mr Tipene says the more Minister Little tries to rush through a settlement, the longer it will take.
Andrew Little will be at Otangarei Marae in Whangarei this evening from 6pm, the Mangakahia Sports Complex in Poroti, Kaikohe RSA and Copthorne Hotel Omapere tomorrow and Whangaroa College in Kaeo and Whitiora Marae in Te Tii on Sunday.
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