Media Release April 27 2009

Ngati Whatua Welcomes Government Proposals to Build Treaty Settlement Momentum

Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua says it is well poised to pick up government proposals for improving treaty claim processes.

Chair, Nadia Glavish, says there is some good common sense in the seven ideas proposed by the government at its national hui for making treaty settlement processes more efficient .

“The suggestion Maori rather than the Crown be supported to build relationships with hapu and iwi with overlapping claims we view as particularly useful, and is an area we have already begun to progress ourselves,” she says.

Naida Glavish says in the past the Crown has taken on the role of resolving overlapping claims which has often hindered rather than helped.

She says from both a cultural and a practical point of view, it is beneficial for Maori to work through the issues with overlapping claims themselves, as long as they are adequately resourced to do so.

In December 2008, Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua signed a Deed of Mandate with the Crown to enter into negotiations for the comprehensive settlement of all of the remaining historical claims of Ngati Whatua (that is, the iwi claims and the outstanding hapu claims).

The Ngati Whatua rohe covers 32 marae from Auckland, through the Kaipara, Otamatea, Northern Wairoa and Whangarei.

Naida Glavish says the Runanga has made suggestions to the Office of Treaty Settlements for ways to more efficiently manage work plans to prepare claims.

“It appears the government and iwi are on the same page when it comes to finding more efficiencies in treaty claim processes without taking short cuts.”

Naida Glavish says while there are definitely opportunities to settle claims in parallel with other claimants where appropriate, it will be important not to ‘lump claimants together’ in loose geographical groupings without taking account of their distinct cultural identities and cross boundary relationships.

She says Ngati Whatua also supports the government’s indication it will better resource the Office of Treaty Settlements to speed up the process.

“We’re ready to go. But we’re aware that the government’s eagerness to pick up the pace must be matched by more resources at their end.”

ENDS

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