Another step towards Nga¯puhi’s settlement

By Peter de Graaf A Treaty settlement for New Zealand’s biggest iwi has taken another step forward with the signing of terms of negotiation by Nga¯puhi and the Crown.

The 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 late next year.

The government’s settlement plans are, however, staunchly opposed by some within Nga¯puhi. 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 but Raniera (Sonny) Tau, who chairs both Te Runanga-a-iwi o Nga¯puhi and Tu¯horonuku Independent Mandated Authority, called on all Nga¯puhi to celebrate the settlement milestone.

“It has been a long journey for our people, but at last we’re ready to get stuck into negotiating the settlement that will benefit all Nga¯puhi,” he said.

“It’s 175 years since Nga¯puhi 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’.”

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 Te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapu Nga¯puhi, which won an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing in December into the Crown’s process for recognising Tu¯horonuku’s mandate to negotiate for all Ngapuhi. The Tribunal has yet to release its findings.

Te Kotahitanga co-leader Pita Tipene said Tu¯horonuku’s structure was flawed because it did not allow hapu real authority.

The fact that 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 Tu¯horonuku machine,” he said.

Te Kotahitanga wants the settlement split into five areas (taiwhenua), and the Waitangi Tribunal hearings process to be completed before the two parties start talking monetary compensation. Meanwhile Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson described the signing of terms of negotiation as an important milestone for Nga¯puhi.

“We can now begin genuine conversations with hapu¯ about their specific concerns, and work towards a settlement that will provide all Nga¯puhi with a strong social and economic platform for the future,” he said.

The announcement was particularly significant given that it was made on 20th anniversary of the signing of Tainui’s Treaty of Waitangi settlement.

“Tainui provides an excellent example of just what an iwi can achieve for its people postsettlement,” Mr Finlayson said.

“We cannot pre-determine what final settlement will look like, however it could include hapu¯-specific redress. The outcome depends on the interests and aspirations of Nga¯puhi themselves.

“Cultural redress is as important as financial redress, but can take longer to negotiate as it requires identification of regional and hapu¯specific interests, as well as finding a way to balance these with the broad interests of all Nga¯puhi.”

Tu¯horonuku IMA had worked very hard to be inclusive, and he urged all Nga¯puhi hapu¯ to step up and have their say in the settlement negotiations. He expected their leaders to continue to show generosity of spirit and make sure all could be involved.

Mr Finlayson confirmed that the signing of terms would not interfere with the current Waitangi Tribunal inquiry into the Crown’s decision to recognise Tu¯horonuku IMA’s mandate.

“I remain confident that the decision to recognise the mandate was correct. I look forward to the Tribunal’s report, and will carefully consider its views, but in the meantime there is important and urgent work to be done,” he added.

“We know that the North is one of the most economically deprived regions in New Zealand. We know that more Nga¯puhi live outside their rohe than within it because of the lack of opportunity there. We also know that Nga¯puhi have already waited too long for redress.”

The Waitangi Tribunal’s Te Paparahi o Te Raki hearing would continue while negotiations with Nga¯puhi were under way.

The terms of negotiation can be seen at www.ots.govt.nz