Ministers endorse Tuhoronuku mandate strategy for Ngapuhi Treaty settlement

An historic comprehensive Ngapuhi Treaty settlement came a step closer this week with Minister of Maori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita Sharples and the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Hon Christopher Finlayson, endorsing Te Roopu o Tuhoronuku’s strategy to seek a mandate from the Ngapuhi iwi.

Te Roopu o Tuhoronuku will hold a series of mandating hui throughout Aotearoa-New Zealand and Australia during late March and April this year.

During this process Ngapuhi – the biggest iwi with membership in excess of 123 000 - will be asked to give Te Roopu o Tuhoronuku their vote to represent them in negotiations with the Crown for a comprehensive settlement of all Ngapuhi’s historical Te Tiriti o Waitangi grievances against the Crown.

Te Roopu o Tuhoronuku is a committee set up by Ngapuhi hapu leadership and financially underwritten by Te Runanga A Iwi O Ngapuhi to advance settlement for all Ngapuhi.

In a letter to Te Roopu o Tuhoronuku Project Leader, Lorraine Toki, the Ministers said the strategy was “sound” and they were confident the proposals in the strategy “were in line with Crown criteria for a robust and transparent mandating process”.

The strategy is posted on Tuhoronuku’s website www.tuhoronuku.com.

Over the next six weeks Ngapuhi are invited to provide comments on the strategy via the website.

Said Ngapuhi leader Sonny Tau: “This mandate strategy endorsement from Ministers is a significant milestone in our journey towards Treaty settlement.

“It is only three years ago that our Kaumatua and Kuia told Ngapuhi leadership to get on with settling our grievances against the Crown. Since then we have been consulting with our iwi throughout Aotearoa and Australia. Overwhelmingly, they have told us to settle and move forward as a people.

“Non-settlement is holding back Ngapuhi … and Aotearoa. When we look at other regions that have settled, and see the progress they have made, there is no question that every year delayed is a year of wasted opportunity for our iwi.

“In terms of WAI 1040 Te Paparahi o Te Raki, Te Roopu o Tuhoronuku strongly supports claimants having a platform to air their grievances. We do not support the traditional elongated process associated with the Waitangi Tribunal process. We believe the hearings must proceed with some semblance of order, driven by Ngapuhi, not dictated or coordinated by lawyers as is currently the case.

“We have written to the Waitangi Tribunal asking for the allocation of a set number of weeks for Ngapuhi to present tangata whenua evidence, prioritise the issues, then set a number of weeks for these issues to be heard.

“Te Roopu o Tuhoronuku is open to working with those who are committed to Ngapuhi moving forward,” said Mr Tau.

The Ministers’ endorsement of the strategy comes after three leading Northland MPs – Hone Harawira, Kelvin Davis and Shane Jones – issued statements late last year in which they supported a comprehensive Ngapuhi settlement.

The timeline for the Ngapuhi Treaty settlement process in 2011:

• Waitangi Tribunal closing submissions at Waitangi: 22-24 February
• Tuhoronuku Deed of Mandate voting process nationwide: late March – April
• The Crown assesses the Deed of Mandate response: May
• The Crown gives its decision on whether Tuhoronuku has received mandate: June
• If mandate is granted, direct negotiations begin with the Crown: June onwards

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