Ngapuhi Split Over “Tribal Tax” Demand

On the eve of the start of its Waitangi Tribunal hearings, Ngapuhi is split over the insistence by one hapu leader that that a special tribal tax – to be imposed on all residents living within Ngapuhi boundaries – should form a non-negotiable part of any settlement.

David Rankin, the Chairman of the Matarahurahu hapu, made public the proposed “tribal tax” on Friday, and promised to withdraw his hapu’s consent if it is not achieved.

Since then, he has been inundated with phone calls and emails from hapu throughout Northland, and those from other areas – “particularly Tuhoe” – supporting the initiative.

However, there have also been “one or two” members of the Ngapuhi Runanga which have expressed their strong opposition and threatened to bar Mr. Rankin from speaking at the hearings.

“One runanga representative said I was trying to be like Robin Hood”, said Mr. Rankin, “so I responded by describing the Runanga as acting like the Sherriff of Nottingham”.

While Mr. Rankin acknowledges that it will be difficult to get the Ngapuhi Runanga to fully support the “Tribal Tax”, he is aware that the majority of Ngapuhi hapu are privately backing his initiative.

“If the Runanga doesn’t back down”, says Mr. Rankin, “they will have the mother of all fights on their hands”.

ENDS

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