Crown and Tainui back in talks

The Crown has re-entered negotiations with Waikato-Tainui Maori over their historic claims on the Waikato River and other outstanding issues.

The Crown and Tainui settled the iwi's claims relating to confiscated land in 1995, but Treaty Negotiations Minister Mark Burton said terms of negotiations relating to river and other outstanding matters were signed at Parliament today.

In May the Crown recognised the mandate of the Waikato Raupatu Trustee Company to negotiate the Waikato River claims and to set up a process to provide the opportunity for all hapu and marae of Waikato-Tainui to negotiate with the Crown over their remaining historical claims.

Tainui's negotiators are Lady Raiha Mahuta and former New Zealand First MP Tukoroirangi Morgan.

- NZPA