The mandate was revised in a bid to close divisions between the Ngapuhi Runanga, whose Te Ropu o Tuhoronuku committee wished to begin direct settlement negotiations and the Te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapu Ngapuhi group, which wants the tribunal to complete its inquiry before negotiations take place.
Mr Finlayson advertised the revised mandate last month and the 2000-plus submissions received before the closing date last week far outnumbered the top number received when submissions were sought on mandate issues affecting other iwi.
Only about 250 submissions were received on the Tuhoe mandate and slightly less on the Ngati Porou mandate, OTS official Nicole Were said yesterday.
"Depending on the complexity of the submissions, it is likely to be several weeks before analysis is completed and officials are able to report to the ministers," she said.
Tuhoronuku spokesman Kipa Munro said yesterday it was great so many submissions had been received as it showed Ngapuhi were taking an interest in the settlement procedure.
"We've gone through the voting process and Ngapuhi has given us a mandate which we want the Crown to recognise," he said.
"It's now in their hands and we have to wait for the process to take its course."
Te Kotahitanga co-chairman Pita Tipene also applauded the large number of submissions.
"It shows how we have to all work together to achieve the best settlement for Ngapuhi," he said.
