Ngapuhi given tick to settle claims | Northland News | Local News in Northland

The Ngapuhi iwi has made an historic step toward negotiating a $160million-plus Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the Crown.

Three out of four Ngapuhi who took part in a controversial mandate vote want direct settlement of a lump sum with the Crown. However, direct settlement will continue to be opposed by Te Kotahitanga o nga Hapu Ngapuhi who favour the Waitangi Tribunal hearing individual claims, before any negotiation takes place, a spokesman says.

The mandate was sought by Te Roopu o Tuhoronuku - an independent sub-committee of Te Runanga-A-Iwi-Ngapuhi.

Twenty three per cent of the 29,389 people who received voting packs had voted.

Of those 6759 people, 5137 ticked the direct settlement box.

An estimated $160million to $170million could be paid to Ngapuhi in recognition of Treaty of Waitangi grievances, making the iwi one of Northland's - and New Zealand's - most powerful organisations.

Sonny Tau, Tuhoronuku's interim chairman, said the vote was the most significant development in Ngapuhi's modern-day history. "From being the biggest but poorest iwi, Ngapuhi is now on its way to settlement and cultural, social and economic advancement.

"Settlement will have a profound effect on Ngapuhi, Northland and the wider Ngapuhi communities throughout Aotearoa and Australia, just as settlement has done for Tainui and Ngai Tahu," Mr Tau said.

However, Te Kotahitanga spokesman Pita Tipene said the result was poor given the large Ngapuhi population, with some estimates put at 160,000 to 180,000. "They can claim significant support and that there is a mandate - the reality is that less than four per cent of Ngapuhi voted in favour. It's hardly a resounding or significant mandate," Mr Tipene said. He would continue to oppose direct settlement, which could include legal action to stop the process. There were still several hoops Tuhoronuku had to jump through.

Mr Tipene was to be in Wellington today where he would be sitting around the table with Mr Tau. The parties had been invited to meet Treaty Claims Minister Christopher Finlayson.

Mr Tau said: "We've supported the hearing of individual claims but they need to be correlated and taken directly to the Crown. This is the time the Ngapuhi have to be innovative. If we wait for another 15 to 20 years, then we'll be waiting forever."

The Government now had a responsibility to recognise the mandate, Mr Tau said.

History suggests the Crown could look favourably at the voting process.

The Ngapuhi result was 1.5 per cent higher than the 21.4 per cent of Ngati Porou who voted in that iwi's 2007 mandate process that was recognised by the Government, Mr Tau said. He said the door remained open to hapu and treaty claimants who had favoured the Waitangi Tribunal route. However, Ngapuhi leaders had a responsibility to move forward with settlement.

What happens next?

- Tuhoronuku intends to submit its Deed of Mandate application to the Crown within four weeks.

- The Office of Treaty Settlements (OTS) will publicly advertise the Deed of Mandate and hold a public submission process, seeking comments from interested parties. Four weeks is the usual time frame within which comments must be received.

- After reviewing any comments received, the OTS, in consultation with Te Puni Kokiri, will report to the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and the Minister of Maori Affairs. The ministers must then decide on whether to recognise the mandate, on behalf of the Crown.

- The Crown is expected to make a decision following the general election, probably in February 2012.