How long can this deceit continue? asks Flavell

Te Ururoa Flavell, Treaty Spokesperson for the Maori Party

Wednesday 1 August 2007

The Waitangi’s Tribunal rejection of the second report on the Te Arawa Settlement process must surely be an urgent wake up call to the Government says Waiariki MP and Maori Party Treaty spokesperson, Te Ururoa Flavell.

“This second report on the Te Arawa Settlement process is yet another nail in the casket as the Treaty Settlements process prepares itself for the undertaker. It is time this putrid carcass is buried and the sooner the better for all concerned” said Flavell.

“How many reports must it take before the Crown stops what it is doing and gives the process the respect it deserves?” asked Flavell.

“This report states clearly, that the Crown, in setting itself up so that it would receive accumulated rentals for the Crown Forestry Rental Trust for itself, is “in breach of the principles and duties imposed by the Treaty”.

"The thief is stealing once again" said Flavell.

“To make matters worse, the Tribunal also criticises the Crown’s failure to communicate the proposal to affected parties” (namely Crown Forestry Rental Trust; the New Zealand Maori Council and the Federation of Maori Authorities)”.

“In practice, what the Crown has done is to find a way to cream the profits for itself, without letting on to anyone else just like a thief in the night” said Flavell.

“How long can this deceit continue?”

“The eighty-five page report is full of bad news” said Flavell. “The details of Crown failures to protect the customary interests of Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Haka Patuheuheu, Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Rangitihi, are bad enough”.

“But there is also a description of what the Tribunal describes as 'a dearth of direct engagement’ with the overlapping claimants which is a huge concern” said Flavell.

“It is outrageous – out of over 110 communications with overlapping claimants in 2005 and 2006; only two refer to face to face meetings” said Flavell.

“And in fact, the Crown failed to engage at all with some groups, including Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Whaoa, Ngati Tamakari and Ngati Te Rangiunuora”.

“The overwhelming impression one gets from this report, is that there is high risk of significant prejudice occurring to Central North Island iwi outside of Nga Kaihautu o Te Arawa” said Te Ururoa Flavell.

“The Tribunal has said it has grave concerns regarding the adverse impact on overlapping iwi, AGAIN”.

“The Tribunal has described their experience with the Te Arawa Settlement process as likely to have a negative impact on the durability of future Central North Island Settlements, AGAIN” said Flavell.

“The Tribunal has concluded that aspects of the deed of settlement and the Crown’s process are inconsistent with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, AGAIN”.

“The Tribunal has warned the Crown not to continue to ‘pick favourites’ AGAIN”.

“The Tribunal has challenged the Crown to stop making decisions in isolation, based on inadequate information, AGAIN”.

“When will the Crown wake up to the boring monotony of this list of policy and procedural failures” asked Te Ururoa Flavell.

“We, the Maori Party, strongly endorse the recommendation from the Tribunal to delay the proposed settlement, and to instigate a forum of CNI iwi and other affected groups, with haste” said Flavell.

“We have pointed out to the Crown, that failure to achieve reconciliation amongst iwi can create enormous conflicts within and between iwi” said Te Ururoa Flavell.

“The process continues to highlight the obvious intentions of the Crown to pit iwi against iwi” said Flavell.

“We urge the Government to read this second report extremely carefully, and take into account the aspirations of iwi, that the allocation of Crown forest assets will be undertaken fairly, transparently and according to tikanga”.

“These are the same old issues rearing their head” said Flavell. “The time for hiding one’s head in the pumice is over. The Crown must address the fatal flaws in their Treaty processes and consider the whole process for the good of the nation before even more conflict is created”.

ENDS

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