A Maori leader brought in to sort ongoing arguments over how Ngapuhi negotiates treaty settlements is proposing a radical revamp of the present plan.
Crown facilitator Tukoroirangi (Tuku) Morgan is suggesting that a new mandated authority with a majority of hapu representatives would manage Ngapuhi Treaty settlement negotiations with the
Crown under draft proposals he has produced.
And once treaty issues were settled, Mr Morgan has called for elections to be held to set up a post settlement governance entity, which would take over tribal authority and operational services from Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi.
Mr Morgan, who is a Waikato-Tainui leader and former MP, began talking to Tuhoronuku and Te Kotahitanga leaders in June in a bid to resolve ongoing Ngapuhi disagreements over settlement negotiation issues.
He is finalising a report that will go to Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson in the next few days. Mr Morgan's proposals for Ngapuhi which will accompany his ministerial report focus on four elements.
? A Special Hearings Commission (SHC).
? An independent mandated authority.
? Changing Tuhoronuku's representative framework
? A new Post-Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE).
Mr Morgan proposes setting up a Special Hearings Commission of five people - he suggests Sir Eddie Durie, Professor Ranginui Walker, Keita Walker, Kihi Ngatai and Professor Wharenuia Milroy - to hear more than 300 outstanding claims before the Waitangi Tribunal's Te Paparahi o Te Raki (Northland) inquiry.
The SHC would receive submissions from claimants and hapu only - no lawyers - over six weeks in summer next year.
SHC hearings would be held across five regions based on natural hapu groupings.
The SHC would then present recommendations to senior ministers and these would feed directly into the settlement negotiations.
Mr Morgan proposes existing members of Tuhoronuku would stand down in preparation for a fresh election once a deed of mandate was achieved and mandated by the Crown.
