Historic Ngāpuhi Treaty settlement process gaining pace - Crown advises Tūhoronuku of advertising Mandate

The historic Ngāpuhi Treaty settlement journey is gaining momentum, with the Government calling for submissions on the Tūhoronuku Deed of Mandate.

In a letter received from the Crown today, Tūhoronuku have been advised that the Crown will be advertising their mandate for public submissions in early July.

Ngāpuhi is by far the biggest Iwi in Aotearoa with an estimated 140,000 members. The Ngāpuhi settlement will be the last of the big Treaty settlements, and Iwi leaders and Government predict it will have a transformative effect on the struggling Northland economy In September 2011, Ngāpuhi overwhelmingly gave their mandate to Te Rōpū o Tūhoronuku (Tūhoronuku) to represent them in negotiations on settlement of all Crown breaches and grievances against Ngāpuhi and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Since then Tūhoronuku has worked to strengthen the Deed of Mandate, giving hapū a greater voice and regional representation.

Once the Government recognise the Tūhoronuku mandate, the Tūhoronuku Independent Mandated Authority (Tūhoronuku IMA) comes into existence, holding elections for new representatives during the latter part of this year.

Settlement negotiations with the Government are expected to begin early in 2014, with the Government saying it hopes the process will be concluded by year end.

Said Tūhoronuku Interim Chairman, Raniera Tau: “The Crown proposes advertising the amended Deed of Mandate in early July – this is a significant step forward in our enduring settlement journey. People will have an opportunity to provide the Crown with their submissions on the Tūhoronuku Deed of Mandate. . Said Mr Tau: “The Tūhoronuku Deed of Mandate has been developed over almost five years. The process has been a rigorous one, and we are confident that Ngāpuhi for some time now have been willing, waiting and able to support.

About Ngāpuhi:
Ngāpuhi, by far the biggest Iwi in Aotearoa, will be the last of the big Te Tiriti o Waitangi settlements. In the 2006 Census, it had 123,000 members who proudly affiliated to Ngāpuhi. About Te Rōpū o Tūhoronuku:

• Te Rōpū o Tūhoronuku represents all Ngāpuhi, no matter where they live.

• Te Rōpū o Tūhoronuku is an independent sub-committee of Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi o Ngāpuhi.

• In September 2011 Ngāpuhi voted overwhelmingly (76.4% of those who voted) to give their mandate to Te Rōpū o Tūhoronuku to negotiate directly with the Government to settle all historical Crown breaches and grievances against Ngāpuhi and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

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