Treaty policy on conservation land, natural resources reviewed

The Government is reviewing the use of conservation land and natural resources in Treaty settlements to ensure a consistent broad policy is used when they are included in settlements.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson is hosting a hui for about 120 leaders from 60 iwi claimant groupings in Auckland today.

The iwi will be given seven proposals to help streamline negotiations to meet the Government's goal of settling historical grievances by 2014.

It will also be asked if any "radical" changes are needed to the system, although Mr Finlayson said there were dangers in doing so.

"There can be legitimate concerns raised by people who say 'well, that door was closed to us seven years ago but you're opening it now. We want to have a fresh look at things.' So you have to be careful about that."

Mr Finlayson said he was also reviewing the use of natural resources and conservation land in settlements to ensure a consistent policy applied.

He was surprised when he took over the portfolio at the lack of overarching policy. Over the years, incremental changes had resulted in new features appearing in settlements, including an increasing focus on natural resources. Mr Finalyson said it was time to "stocktake" to develop a broad policy for handling resources and conservation land.

The Department of Conservation briefing last year called for a broad national policy to govern the inclusion of rights over natural resources such as fresh water in settlements.

Mr Finlayson said it was important not to be overly prescriptive about what could be used in settlements.

"You have to be open to innovation and different ways of doing things or you become a slave to a template."

Prime Minister John Key, Finance Minister Bill English and Maori Party ministers Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia will all attend today's hui. Conservation Minister Tim Groser and Associate Maori Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu were also expected, as well as Labour MP Nanaia Mahuta and Green MP Metiria Turei.

Mr Finlayson said the level of attendance reflected the importance the Government placed on settlements. Treaty negotiations is one of the few areas expected to get a boost in funding in the Budget to help speed progress, although Mr Finlayson would not comment on that yesterday.

Iwi will be presented with seven proposals to help speed up the process.

One proposal is for the Crown to pay for facilitators to help iwi with overlapping claims take a joint claim or resolve the claim overlaps among themselves before entering negotiations with the Crown.

Ms Turei said the 2014 goal was "madness" and would result in the Crown dealing with only major iwi and "large, unnatural groupings" so that smaller hapu and iwi missed out.

Mr Finlayson said Ms Turei's view was "very negative. There is going to be no cajoling or frog-marching people into a particular mode of settlement if they don't want it."

The Office of Treaty Settlements warned in its briefing to Mr Finlayson that it was overstretched by the pace of the settlements and cautioned there was a risk that the Crown's capacity to engage with claimants could hinder timely settlements.