Treaty deadline will lead to explosion of claims

Policies setting a deadline for Treaty of Waitangi claims may be unworkable, says AUT University Treaty expert Professor Paul Moon.

"There are many potential claimants who have spent years mulling over their claims. If a deadline is announced, I suspect most will jump to action and lodge their claims - possibly within a matter of months - leading to a surge in Treaty claims."

Professor Moon also sees a further source of claims. "Among those groups who have already reached full and final settlements, there are cases where communities belonging to those groups feel their interests have not been fairly represented.

"With a deadline hanging over them, they may be inclined to disassociate themselves from their tribal organisations, establish themselves as separate legal personalities, and lodge new claims."

A deadline on the receipt of claims – a statute of limitations – is possible, says Professor Moon, but the Tribunal would need a substantial boost in resources if all current and potential historical claims were to be fully resolved by 2014.

ENDS

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