22 July 2011

“It is time for Ngapuhi to be heard” - mandate to be sought by Tuhoronuku during August & September

Ngapuhi Treaty settlement sub-committee Te Ropu o Tuhoronuku is to begin seeking mandate from mid-August to represent the iwi in settlement negotiations with the Crown.

A Horizon Research poll commissioned in June by Te Ropu o Tuhoronuku found:

• 91% of Ngapuhi wished to negotiate a Treaty settlement directly with the Crown

• 50.4% of Ngapuhi support a parallel process(i.e .direct settlement negotiations with the Crown for an early settlement, while at the same time individual Ngapuhi Treaty claims are heard through the Waitangi Tribunal)

Ngapuhi is Aotearoa’s biggest iwi, with more than 123 000 members who mostly reside in the greater Auckland area, with 13% living at home in Northland.

Te Ropu o Tuhoronuku chair Raniera (Sonny) Tau said it was now time for all Ngapuhi, wherever they live, to have their say on who they want to represent them.

“Over the past three years Tuhoronuku has held 44 consultation hui throughout Aotearoa and parts of Australia. We’ve conducted online forums and communicated with our people through various other means.

“For those hapu who have had concerns, we’ve delayed the mandate process by three months and entered into Crown-sponsored facilitation by respected statesman Hon Jim Bolger.

“It is now time for Ngapuhi to have their say.

“Mandating hui will begin on 19 August, and will be held throughout Aotearoa, Sydney and Perth. They will be well advertised in mainstream media, including television, in coming weeks.

“All Ngapuhi will be given the opportunity to vote, with the option to vote online, by post, by fax or at a mandating hui.”

Mr Tau said those Ngapuhi who are wanting more information on how they can participate in the voting process should go to the Tuhoronuku website www.tuhoronuku.com.

ENDS

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