Terms of negotiation signing brings Ngapuhi closer to settlement

Raniera "Sonny" Tau

A Treaty settlement for New Zealand's biggest iwi has taken another step forward with the signing of terms of negotiation by Ngapuhi and the Crown.

This week's signing paves the way for negotiations to begin later this year and for an agreement in principle - a draft settlement that could total hundreds of millions of dollars - to be signed as early as the end of 2016.

The government's settlement plans are, however, stanchly opposed by some wthin Ngapuhi. Some hapu leaders say they weren't told the terms of negotiation were being discussed, and only found out about the signing when media started calling.

Raniera "Sonny" Tau, who chairs both Te Runanga-a-iwi o Ngapuhi and Tuhoronuku Independent Mandated Authority, called on all Ngapuhi to celebrate this week's settlement milestone.

"It has been a long journey for our people but at last we're ready to get stuck in to negotiating the settlement that will benefit all Ngapuhi. It's 175 years since Ngapuhi signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which the Crown began breaching almost immediately, and it's eight years since our kaumatua and kuia directed us to 'get on with our settlement'," he said.

Settlement would put the tribe on a path to healthy and productive lives, the return of land, the revitalisation of te reo, and becoming an economic powerhouse. The lead negotiators would be Alison Thom, Hemi Toia and Joseph Davis.

Opposition to the settlement plan is led by the group Te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapu Ngapuhi, which won an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing last December into the Crown's process for recognising Tuhoronuku's mandate to negotiate for all Ngapuhi. The Tribunal has yet to release its findings.

Te Kotahitanga co-leader Pita Tipene said Tuhoronuku's structure was flawed because it did not allow hapu real authority. The fact the terms of negotiation had been signed in secret was also disappointing.

"It's usually an open and transparent process, but no one knew it had happened. This will continue to undermine people's confidence in the Tuhoronuku machine."

Te Kotahitanga wants the settlement split up into five areas called taiwhenua, and the Waitangi Tribunal hearings process to be completed before the two sides start talking monetary compensation.