Pānui from Tūhoronuku Independent Mandated Authority Chairman, Hōne Sadler

Ngāpuhi settlement negotiations expected to begin this year

• “Ngāpuhi settlement within our sights” – Prime Minister, Waitangi 2018

• “I am totally confident we can set up negotiations that will achieve one settlement for all Ngāpuhi, that will be respectful of hapū ....we are aiming to settle by 2020” – Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Waitangi 2018

Waitangi 2018 will be seen as a turning point in the history of the Ngāpuhi Te Tiriti o Waitangi settlement.

Following recent meetings with the Tūhoronuku Independent Mandated Authority and other hapū groupings throughout the Tai Tokerau, the new Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Andrew Little, said at Waitangi he was “totally confident we can set up negotiations that will achieve one settlement for all Ngāpuhi, that will be respectful of hapū”.

He later confirmed publicly he believed the settlement could be concluded by 2020.

In her address on the Waitangi upper marae, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the Ngāpuhi settlement is “within our sights”.

This is excellent news for Ngāpuhi, who have been frustrated by the seven years of delay since they overwhelmingly gave their mandate to Tūhoronuku (76.4% of those who voted). 2 With Ngāpuhi being by far the biggest iwi and settling some 20 years after the settlement process began, the Ngāpuhi fiscal settlement alone should touch the half billion dollar mark.

This settlement putea will provide a platform by which Ngāpuhi is able to participate in supporting the economic, social and cultural advancement of our people and for Northland.

Every month we delay settlement is several million dollars lost in interest alone. That’s more than $200 million lost since mandate was granted by Ngāpuhi in September 2011.

Money that could have been used to build houses for our people, contribute towards improving health and welfare outcomes for our whānau, including providing jobs and other opportunities.

Minister Little has said the next step will be a proposal by the Crown in early March on what the negotiation representation framework might look like. Tūhoronuku has indicated to Minister Little that as the mandated entity for Ngāpuhi, we expect to work with him on developing this framework, as that is the ruling Ngāpuhi have given.

The Minister has recently stated he is loathe to start from scratch with a new mandate as that would take many more years to secure.

To the Government, which has rightly put a massive focus on eliminiating child poverty, we say we are relieved you want to progress the Ngāpuhi settlement without any further delay. We have a large number of Ngāpuhi children living in poverty! Every year redress is delayed adversely impacts on how Ngāpuhi are able to contribute to improving the wellbeing of our tamariki and our people.

Ngāpuhi are ready to settle! Do not hold back our people in our enduring quest to negotiate a settlement of grievances and breaches by the Crown against Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Ngāpuhi.

J. B. (Hōne) Sadler
CHAIRMAN

What is the Tūhoronuku IMA?

• The Tūhoronuku Independent Mandated Authority is the mandated entity for all Ngāpuhi, no matter where we live. In September 2011, Ngāpuhi voted overwhelmingly (76.4% of those who voted) to give their mandate to Te Rōpū o Tūhoronuku.

• On 14 February 2014, the mandate Ngāpuhi gave Tūhoronuku was officially recognised by the Minister for Māori Development and the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations.

• The number of representatives on the Tūhoronuku IMA was increased, with hapū representatives now having the majority voice – 15 of the 22 representatives. • New elections were held for the 22 Tūhoronuku IMA representatives from March to July 2014.

What is the Tūhoronuku IMA purpose?

• According to the Tūhoronuku IMA Trust Deed the purpose is to negotiate a settlement of all Te Tiriti o Waitangi grievances and breaches by the Crown against Ngāpuhi.

© Scoop Media