Wananga supporters head to Waitangi hearing

Staff and students from Te Wananga o Aotearoa and its parent body the Aotearoa Institute are heading to Wellington for tomorrow's Waitangi Tribunal hearing.

At least two busloads of supporters left the wananga's Apakura campus in Te Awamutu, while staff and students from other campuses may also make the trip to the capital.

It was understood the delegation will meet at Te Papa before walking to the nearby Duxton Hotel, where the hearing will be held.

The hearing starts at 12.45pm.

Last month the Aotearoa Institute filed papers with the Waitangi Tribunal, claiming the Crown had breached the Treaty of Waitangi.

It has sought an urgent hearing into its claim that the Crown failed to honour a promise to pay millions of dollars due under a suspensory loan.

It was understood institute representatives also planned to hold a press conference in Wellington after the hearing.

The wananga council has been distancing itself from the institute over the claim.

- nzpa