A question of trust

The Maori Party has questioned whether the Office of Treaty Settlements and Crown Law can be trusted after reports they withheld information crucial to a $90 million cash-and-land deal for Ngati Whatua o Orakei.

Documents relating to the settlement have been withheld from hearings, and officials ignored concerns raised by settlements office senior policy analyst Peter Hodge about the iwi's refusal to engage with other iwi regarding overlapping claims.

Maori MP Te Ururoa Flavell suggested the Office of Treaty Settlements be made part of the Prime Minister's office or an independent authority be set up.