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Claims to the Waitangi Tribunal have climbed past the 1300 mark - but the Government says it is still confident about completing Treaty settlements by its self-imposed 2020 deadline.
So far almost $800 million has been spent on 18 major settlements, with up to $500 million earmarked to settle remaining claims. A looming 2008 deadline for the lodging of all claims is also expected to see a flurry of grievances tabled by Maori.
Office of Treaty Settlements head Paul James said the 2020 deadline was achievable because many of the small claims would merge into larger groups. Last September, for instance, the Te Arawa settlement with Rotorua-based iwi covered 47 claims and resolved in part 26 others.
He estimated the outstanding claims would be dealt with in about 50 settlements.
"We are confident over the next four to five years we can make great progress that will see us significantly closer to settling all claims by 2020."
Mr James declined to discuss likely settlement totals but said around $792 million had been spent on settlements to date.
However, some groups have reacted angrily to the deadlines and warned that Maori grievance will continue indefinitely until a fair and inclusive process is reached.
Maori Party Treaty spokesman Te Ururoa Flavell said the negotiation process did not fairly compensate Maori or allow a fair forum for Maori grievance to be heard or acknowledged. "The Government can set time frames and pass laws to limit Maori grievance, but it will not take away Maori grievance.
"If we don't address settlements fairly now, it will be raised again, and again and again, until it is. We have already seen this in the past, and we will see it again."
Whanganui iwi negotiator Ken Mair said the 2008 and 2020 deadlines would be ignored by Maori, until they were consulted and allowed input into the decision process.
"The Government cannot legislate away our grievance. They have set the rules, and have arrogantly refused to involve their Treaty partner in the process. Our grievance will not disappear just because a date is reached."
