Since then the Mōkai Pātea Waitangi Claims Trust (MPWCT) has spent months working on drafting the terms, engaging with the iwi and gaining their support for the agreement, chairman Utiku Potaka said.
At the same time, the trust has been involved in a parallel Waitangi Tribunal process that has its last hearing on October 4.
Potaka welcomed the chance to move the settlement into direct negotiation with the Crown.
"This is one more step that will help achieve our goal of settlement and eventually contributing to the ongoing development of our whānau, hapū, iwi and marae. We now look forward to the year ahead," he said.
A negotiation team is being recruited, and will meet with chief Crown negotiator Katherine Gordon.
An agreement in principle could be signed within 18 months if all goes well.
Ngāti Hinemanu me Ngāti Paki Heritage Trust chairman Jordan Winiata didn't know the signing had taken place.
The trust continues to oppose the deed of mandate, he said.
It has withdrawn its claims from the negotiations, despite both the Crown and the claims trust ignoring that.
It will continue to take steps to have that withdrawal upheld, Winiata said, and he expected the Waitangi Tribunal's report would support the grievances of Ngāti Hinemanu and Ngāti Paki.
He is awaiting the results of a claims trust meeting that happened on June 9.
Potaka said the trust was still working its way through that.
