Settlement delays a major concern for Tuhoronuku

Sonny Tau

Any Waitangi Tribunal recommendations holding up settlement of Ngapuhi's Treaty grievances would severely harm the whole tribe, says Tuhoronuku Independent Mandated Authority interim chairman Sonny Tau.

Any delays to the current process would fail to resolve tension, he says in a weighty Tuhoronuku submission to the tribunal opposing nine applications for urgent hearings over Crown recognition of the authority's mandate.

"More fundamentally, any further delay of desperately needed financial redress would exacerbate the poverty within Ngapuhi."

The affidavit, sworn on Wednesday, is 164 pages, 300 pages of evidence.

The applications for urgent hearings, lodged by individuals and hapu representing nine Wai (tribunal) numbers, were opposed because the applicants were unlikely to suffer any significant prejudice over the foreseeable future because of Tuhoronuku processes or Crown policy, Mr Tau says.

"The applicants only represent a small [albeit vocal] minority of Ngapuhi."

The affidavit outlines moves to elect trustees and draft negotiation plans.

"These next steps will directly address matters the applicants claim are of potential prejudice to them, and they are welcome to participate alongside the rest of Ngapuhi katoa," Mr Tau says.

"Our history reminds us we too often bickered among ourselves, but when facing a common enemy we would set aside our differences, our rangatira would gather, agree on a battle plan and then fight as one. Today we must act in a similar manner, always mindful of individual needs of whanau and hapu in our takiwa. Yet equally we must be determined to act with common purpose for the collective good."

The Crown told the tribunal it would assess the mandate after the Tuhoronuku elections. Tuhoronuku would have to comply with Crown conditions to complete negotiation plans involving hapu and said it may be meeting further with groups such as Ngati Hine, which is among the claimants questioning the Tuhoronuku mandate.