No word on Treaty talks

Minister of Treaty Negotiations Chris Finlayson.

The Minister of Treaty Settlements is keeping quiet about whether or not Waitangi Tribunal recommendations to halt Ngapuhi treaty negotiations will be listened to.

The Tribunal released the findings of its inquiry into the mandate given by the Crown to Tuhoronuku to negotiate on behalf of Ngapuhi, last week.

The report showed there was no need to re-run the mandating process as the Crown had "engaged with those opposing the mandate in good faith over a number of years" but it also criticised the Crown for undermining the rangatiratanga of hapu and recommended negotiations be halted so these issues could be addressed.

Questions put to the Minister of Treaty Negotiations, Chris Finlayson, about whether negotiations between the Crown and Tuhoronuku would be halted, were avoided.

"Negotiations are at a very early and preparatory stage. This, along with Tuhoronuku electing new leaders, provides space for both the Crown and Tuhoronuku to consider the Tribunal's remarks around the representation of hapu in the settlement process," a spokeswoman for Mr Finlayson said.

When asked for a yes or no answer or if Mr Finlayson was still considering halting negotiations, the spokeswoman said she had nothing further to add.

Rudy Taylor, co-chair of the group which opposes Tuhoronuku - Te Kotahitanga - said it was important Mr Finlayson did halt negotiations.

Mr Taylor said the report findings which said structures and processes of Tuhoronuku "denied hapu any effective means of withdrawing from it or exerting control over how it represents them," needed to be discussed.

"It needs to stop, we all need to sit down and talk about what is in this report," he said.

Mr Finlayson's spokeswoman said Tuhoronuku strove to design a process that balanced hapu representation with Ngapuhi unity. The Crown had worked hard with Tuhoronuku to achieve that.

When asked what Mr Finlayson had to say to the hapu who welcomed the report and agreed their rangatiratanga had been undermined, a spokeswoman said the Crown's intention had always been to involve all Ngapuhi, including hapu, in the settlement process.

"Several steps were taken in the process to enhance the position of hapu, while at the same time, taking care that the expression of hapu rangatiratanga did not frustrate the aspirations expressed by many that Ngapuhi leadership unify and work together," she said.