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National | Elections

Tūhoronuku the subject of Waitangi Tribunal judicial hearing

The Crown's confirmation of Tūhoronuku as the mandated body to settle Ngāpuhi's treaty grievances is the subject of an urgent judicial hearing of the Waitangi Tribunal.

Today it was the turn of the respective hapū claimants that are opposed to that mandate.

Tūhoronuku was being likened to a carrot being dangled by the Crown.

Māori lawyer, Annette Sykes believes "The majority don't want to eat that carrot and that is the focus of  lawyers today. It is the hapū who have control of their lands and territories and not an entity supported by the Crown"

There is a ban on the media broadcasting the hearing with all submissions and presentations to this conference by lawyers for the respective hapū claimants.

Pita Tipene of Te Kotahitanga o Ngā Hapū o Ngāpuhi says "for a long time now the nation has heard the perspective of Tūhoronuku.  This is the presentation of evidence in opposition to Tūhoronuku and the Crown who continue to promote Tūhoronuku as the option"

Judge Sarah Reeves and her bench have the ominous task of determining whether or not the evidence presented to this conference is grounds for an urgent and substantive hearing of the Waitangi Tribunal into this matter.

Day two of the conference will hear evidence from both the Crown and Tūhoronuku.