Ngapuhi gather to debate mandate

Erima Henare (right) addresses the tribunal with support from Vietnam veteran Hirini Henare (left) and Hirini Henare junior, holding a photograph of the late Sir James Henare. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Ngapuhi is being railroaded into fast-track Treaty negotiations by a government that wants to go down in history for signing New Zealand's biggest settlement, a Ngati Hine leader says.

The Waitangi Tribunal is holding an urgent hearing this week at the Copthorne Hotel in Waitangi on a claim lodged by 15 hapu against the Government's decision to recognise the mandate of Tuhoronuku, originally set up as a committee of Te Runanga-a-iwi o Ngapuhi, to negotiate a Treaty settlement on behalf of all Ngapuhi.

The claim continues a long-running rift within Ngapuhi over how to reach what is almost certain to be the country's biggest settlement, eclipsing even Ngai Tahu and Tainui.

One side, led by the runanga, wants fast-tracked direct negotiations with the Crown.

The other, led by Ngati Hine and a group called Te Kotahitanga o nga Hapu Ngapuhi, wants to go through the full Waitangi Tribunal process first.

Under cross-examination yesterday, Ngati Hine academic Erima Henare said no one in Ngapuhi was against settlement. "The issue is the timing and the process," he said.

"They [the current Government] want to be the Government that makes the biggest settlement in New Zealand history, and to hell with Ngapuhi - they can fight over it afterwards."

When told by a Crown lawyer that Ngati Hine's preferred path would delay settlement by an extra four years from the planned 2016 to 2020, Mr Henare said that was of no concern.

"We've waited for 175 years, what's another four?"

He also took a shot at the Government for saying the need to alleviate poverty was one reason for fast-tracking settlement. Maori had long lived in poverty, but the Government seemed to have only just found out.

Mr Henare said he had suggested three alternative models for a Ngapuhi settlement to Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson, "but my advice has been swept away, and we have what we have today".

Earlier, Te Kotahitanga co-leader Rudy Taylor faced some brisk cross-examination from Tribunal presiding officer Sarah Reeves.

Tuhoronuku's deed had been changed to meet some of its opponents' concerns, for example by boosting the number of seats for hapu from 7 out of 15 to 15 out of 22.

"But one possible view is that no amount of change would satisfy Te Kotahitanga, because the real sticking point is the involvement of the runanga," she said.

Hokianga academic Patu Hohepa said the Government's expectation that all Ngapuhi would come together was like expecting National, Labour, the Greens and NZ First to unite under a common banner.

Claimants will continue giving evidence today; tomorrow's agenda includes former Prime Minister and former MP Tukoroirangi Morgan, both of whom tried in vain to bring the two sides together, and the Crown's opening statements.

The other Tribunal members taking part are Kihi Ngatai, Dr Robyn Anderson and new member Tureiti Moxon.