Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday that up to 13 iwi could enter negotiations with the Government for customary title agreements similar to the Ngati Porou agreement.
She said there should be no concern about veto rights of developments by hapu in their area.
"It's part of andparcel of what customary title is. The foreshore and seabed legislation always envisaged that where people could prove that continuous occupation and mana going back to early times that this would be possible."
Speaking at Karetu marae in Northland, Helen Clark said for 3 1/2-years Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen had been in negotiations with three iwi, including Ngati Porou, and others had expressed interest in beginning negotiations.
All up she said she was talking to about 13 iwi. Asked if the agreement might raise the hopes of other iwi that would not be able to meet the same conditions that Ngati Porou had in keeping its own land next to the sea, she said you can't generalise from one case.
"I understand that Dr Cullen is engaging with a number of iwi at the present time and I would certainly expect to see more such agreements."
Rejecting a suggestion that the announcement had been made in Wellington at this time so that it would be overshadowed by Waitangi Day coverage she said it was an appropriate time because it was consistent with the spirit of Waitangi.
"It is about reconciliation. It is about recognising issues whose time has come and it could really be no more appropriate time."
