The Waitangi Tribunal has given the Government until Monday to say whether it will halt the Tuhoronuku election process so opponents of fast-tracked Ngapuhi Treaty settlement negotiations can see submissions they had been unable to obtain from the Crown.
In a tribunal direction issued last week, presiding officer Judge SF Reeves also gave the Crown until Monday to hand over to claimants the submissions it had received on the amended Tuhoronuku deed of mandate.
Judge Reeves was ruling on an urgency application by Te Kotahitanga o nga Hapu Ngapuhi co-chairman Rudy Taylor and others regarding the application of Crown settlement policy over Ngapuhi whanau and hapu.
Crown lawyers had told the tribunal the submissions claimants sought were to be placed on the Office of Treaty Settlements website on March 31, but the lawyer acting for the claimants, Jason Pou, pointed out that nominations for regional hapu representation closed on March 21.
Judge Reeves questioned all parties and concluded: "I agree that if the election proceeds there is potential for significant prejudice to occur. There is a considerable body of opposition to the mandate which was expressed by the submissions received by the Crown in 2013, but people still lack information as to who is in opposition and the details of this."
The tribunal had previously commented negatively on the Crown's poor approach to releasing information to claimants and the judge was concerned this situation appeared to be showing similar characteristics.
Meanwhile, a media release by Te Wakameninga o nga hapu Ngapuhi representative Bryce Smith says the Taumata of Ngapuhi have instructed Te Kotahitanga leaders to stand down immediately to achieve the best outcome for the Ngapuhi settlement process.
"We believe Te Kotahitanga and Tuhoronuku must unite. Bringing the groups together will have the best settlement outcome," he said.
Mr Smith declined to name any members of the taumata. New Te Kotahitanga leaders would be elected at a hui at Parawhenua Marae at Te Ahuahu at 10am on Saturday.
But Te Kotahitanga co-chairman Pita Tipene said Mr Smith had been sidelined from Te Kotahitanga by the Whangaroa people and was now doing his best to undermine the hapu organisation.