Parliament is gearing up for one of the biggest weeks in Treaty of Waitangi settlement history.
At least 500 people and possibly as many as 900 people affiliated to tribes in the Central North Island settlement will be squeezed into every available space for the Wednesday morning signing
of the Deed of Settlement and the first reading of the legislation in the afternoon.
Large meeting rooms in the Treasury and the Ministry for Social Development are on standby if the crowd expected cannot fit into Parliament's Legislative Council Chamber, Grand Hall and Banquet Hall.
"We could have something of a problem with the number of people coming, that's true," Treaty Negotiations Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen said yesterday.
Treaty negotiations are taking up a lot more of Dr Cullen's time these days because of the pace of settlements since he took up the portfolio eight months ago.
"I don't think I am racing to beat the election," he said. "But certainly some iwi are very keen to get runs on the board this side of the election."
Yesterday he met for further talks with Ngati Kahu negotiators led by Professor Margaret Mutu.
With Waikato-Tainui leaders he met the Guardians Establishment Committee to receive the plan for managing the Waikato River.
The Central North Island settlement is between the Crown and a collective of seven iwi including Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Whare, Ngati Manawa, Raukawa and the affiliate Te Arawa iwi and hapu.
There was an "open door" for another, Ngati Rangitihi, to sign up if it can reach agreement in the future, having rejected the settlement last weekend. Altogether they comprise 100,000 people who will share the 170,000ha of Kaingaroa forest in a $500 million deal.
Dr Cullen said it was one of the most complicated settlements. It would not have got off the ground without Tuwharetoa paramount chief Tumu Te Heuheu.
"It needs to be made clear this is not a Crown initiative."
Dr Cullen said Treasury was there for added "policy oomph". He would like to involve it earlier in future.
