Georgina te Heuheu National Maori Affairs Spokesperson
16 May 2002
'Milestone' must result in early settlement
Claims by the Treaty Negotiations Minister that today's Nga Rauru 'agreement in principle' with the Government as being
the first reached after working right through the process with an iwi, stretch the truth, National Maori Affairs
Spokesperson Georgina te Heuheu said today.
"I am pleased for Nga Rauru that they have been able to bring their negotiations to this stage. Nga Rauru began the
process of discussions with National in the 1990s.
"If as the Minister claims that this is a result of her new streamlined process working well then we look forward to
quicker progress on future settlements.
"Resolving historical injustices is critical for moving New Zealand forward and that is why National's Treaty policy is
so focussed and has set clear goals for reaching settlements. We plan to put some real political leadership back into
the process," Mrs te Heuheu said.
Ends