Tainui's claim on the Waikato River will take a leap forward today with the release of a draft agreement in principle.
The Treaty of Waitangi claim covers the river from Karapiro Village north to Port Waikato and while the agreement is not a final settlement, it makes public
for the first time details about confidential negotiations that have been under way between the tribe and the Crown for the past 18 months.
The British invasion into Waikato in 1863 and the subsequent raupatu or mass confiscations is where the claim originates.
Although the tribe settled its land claim in 1995 for $170 million the river claim was set aside for work at a later date.
Last night Tainui officials could not be contacted for comment and Treaty Negotiations Minister Mark Burton declined to comment on the draft's provisions.
However, a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice confirmed that the draft would be released this afternoon at the tribe's Novotel Tainui hotel in Hamilton.
During the negotiations both groups have handled the subject delicately, aware that public opinion on the future of the country's longest river could become inflamed.
The only exception was in April when co-negotiator Tuku Morgan revealed ownership of the river's waters was holding up negotiations.
Mr Burton, Mr Morgan and co-negotiator Lady Raiha Mahuta will appear at a press conference to outline details of the agreement but Tainui's parliament Te Kauhanganui will have already had a look at a scheduled meeting this morning.
Two other Crown offers have been rejected without the co-negotiators taking the offers to their parliament.
The developments signal confidence that the deal is a good one for Tainui as Mr Morgan has said nothing would be taken to Tainui unless it was "significant".
The co-negotiators have signed it but it still needs to be ratified by tribal members and consultation with community and user groups such as Genesis Energy - which owns the Huntly power station - and Federated Farmers needs to happen before a final deed of settlement is signed.
