Pita Paraone MP
Spokesperson for Māori Affairs

Minister Cutting Corners with Treaty Negotiations

New Zealand First says the government is making a habit of engaging in Treaty of Waitangi negotiations with Māori Authorities that do not have the full support of their Iwi.

“The Minister for Treaty of Waitangi negotiations Chris Finlayson is cutting corners and rushing the settlement process,” says Spokesperson for Māori Affairs Pita Paraone.

“The Muaupoko Tribal Authority (MTA) has been awarded the mandate to negotiate with the Crown over the Muaupoko Treaty settlement, yet Iwi members are claiming that MTA representatives are not even descendants of the Muaupoko line.

“Similarly, Tuhoronuku has been given the mandate for Treaty negotiations on behalf of Ngapuhi yet faces widespread opposition from hapū. This mandating process is currently under investigation by the Waitangi Tribunal.

“Minister Finlayson needs to understand that Maori non-participation in mandate votes is a valid form of protest against the process. If he does not begin to acknowledge this he risks disenfranchising a large proportion of Māori from Treaty settlement negotiations.

“If there is any doubt regarding the validity of the mandate for selected Māori authorities to negotiate with the Crown, then any negotiations should be void until a true mandated authority can be selected,” says Mr Paraone.

ENDS

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