Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little to meet Ngapuhi

The two groups at the centre of Ngapuhi's Treaty claims are positive about the new Government but have different views on how settlement can be achieved.

Andrew Little, the new Minister of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations will be meeting Tuhoronuku - the group with the Crown recognised mandate to negotiate claims on behalf of Ngapuhi, and Te Kotahitanga - the group which opposes the recognition of that mandate, in separate meetings on Friday.

This will be followed by an open hui at the Copthorne Waitangi on Saturday from 9am.

Both groups are looking forward to meeting the new Minister and are positive about the new Government.

"This Government will bring a fresh lens, I hope, to the process," said Hone Sadler, chairman of Tuhoronuku.

"I think there's bucketfuls of hope now, given that we have Members of Parliament from Northland," said Te Kotahitanga co-chair Pita Tipene.

However, they have different views on how settlement should be achieved.

"We also want to look at the Maranga Mai report and that has not been a road map to settlement. My belief is that if we follow that as a road map to settlement that's going to add another two years on," Mr Sadler said.

Maranga Mai is a document established by the Crown, Te Kotahitanga and Tuhoronuku following a Waitangi Tribunal report which found the structures of the mandated-body undermined hapu sovereignty.

However, Mr Sadler said Tuhoronuku's concerns were not heard during the creation of Maranga Mai and said the group was still concerned about out some aspects of the report including urban representation and kuia/kaumatua representation.

But co-chairman of Te Kotahitanga, Pita Tipene, said Maranga Mai was the way forward, and if it was followed it could be possible to achieve the preliminary parts of settlement - like the Agreement in Principle - before Christmas next year.

"Both Tuhoronuku and Te Kotahitanga have talked to each other, have crafted a way forward and [Maranga Mai] is the only option moving forward."

Mr Little said this weekend's hui were the first in a series of hui to listen to the people of Ngapuhi.

"I'm looking forward to being in Te Tai Tokerau for the listening hui, as I see this as a new opportunity for genuine consultation with Ngapuhi about their settlement issues, interests and aspirations."

He will return in December and February, he said.