Te Putahitanga Rangatahi o Ngáti Hikairo will float a proposal Monday for Ngati Maniapoto and Waikato iwi to provide its share of fisheries payouts.

They've coined the phrase: 'Hikairo dividend.'

The two iwi have received $18,000,00 and $27,000,000 respectively in Treaty fisheries payouts. Hikairo rangatahi will present a case for an appropriate portion to be returned to the coast where it came from.

Ngáti Maniapoto and Waikato are being hosted by Ngáti Hikairo iwi on Monday morning at Waipapa marae in Kawhia.

It's not easy to determine the portion of compensation that should come back to the coast, so the iwi would enter into discussions to formalise such an arrangement. The rangatahi will lay the take to the iwi apopo and are available to support negotiations as required.

Sourcing this portion of the fisheries payments will assist Ngati Hikairo to meet their development needs. The Hikairo rohe is like many areas with small towns and little economic incentive to keep whánau in the rohe.

It's important for the rangatahi to present their vision, and Te Putahitanga seeks the goodwill of Waikato and Maniapoto so that productive discussions can begin.

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