MEDIA RELEASE

20 March 2015

Kaikohe Hapu Reject Tuhoronuku

Overwhelming opposition to Tuhoronuku negotiating the Ngapuhi Treaty Settlement increases as Kaikohe hapu withdraw their support from the Crown-endorsed process.

Tuhoronuku have marched ahead negotiating Ngapuhi claims despite a Waitangi Tribunal urgent hearing into the Ngapuhi Mandate and is about to appoint three negotiators without waiting for the tribunal to complete its report.

At a hui at Te Kotahitanga Marae last weekend Ngati Whakaeke voted against electing a hapu kaikorero onto Tuhoronuku.

Other Kaikohe hapu have joined in support of Ngati Whakaeke’s opposition as Ngati Tautahi has since withdrawn their hapu kaikorero who was already sitting at the Tuhoronuku table.

Te Uri o Hua, Te Takotoke and Ngati Kura - all hapu around Kaikohe are opposed as well.

Te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapu Ngapuhi co-chair Rudy Taylor says the Kaikohe hapu represent some five thousand people and their opposition is a clear message that they don’t have faith in Tuhoronuku.

“If a hapu already inside the Tuhoronuku tent wants out then clearly something is not right.”

“We applaud the decision to spurn Tuhoronuku by these Kaikohe hapu and together with Hokianga and Ngati Hine our voices can no longer be suppressed.

“The whole process is nothing short of shambolic and it is time for the crown to listen to the voices of the hapu of Ngapuhi,” says Mr Taylor.

ENDS

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