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National | Treaty Claim

Tuhoronuku debates urban representation in treaty claims

Whether or not urban-based Ngāpuhi should have representation is a key issue of debate within the wider restructuring of the mandate which is currently taking place to enable the settlement of Ngāpuhi treaty claims to proceed.

While Tūhoronuku has finally accepted that hapū must drive the settlement process, it also believes there should still be a seat on the board for urban Ngāpuhi.

Lawyer Moana Tuwhare says, “discussion at all of the hui that we went to in urban areas (indicated that) there was strong feeling towards people living outside of the rohe still needing to have that separate representation.”

However, that stance doesn't sit well with Te Kotahitanga o Ngā Hapū o Ngāpuhi who say they fought for the duration of the claims process to have the integrity of respective hapū recognised.

Patu Hohepa of te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapu o Ngapuhi says, “Tūhoronuku continue to trample on the mana of hapū.  It's not for them to now dictate to the hapū what process to follow by saying, ‘You're an urban Ngāpuhi.’  No, they are Ngāpuhi derived from their hapū.”

Tuwhare says, ““The issue is, how do we do that in the near future (with) this immediate process that’s in front of us and in such a way that’s practical and (that doesn’t) further alienate a massive part of our Ngāpuhi population.”

It's been seven months since the release of the draft Maranga Mai report.

It was created by the hapū alliance and Tūhoronuku following the urgent hearing of the Waitangi Tribunal.  It found that the mandate the government had given Tūhoronuku to settle Ngāpuhi claims was flawed and recommended the maintenance of hapū authority.

Patu says, “The control must return to hapū in the first instance.  Those who don't wish to operate under the control of hapū can continue what they are doing but it's the hapū who have the control.”