Ngapuhi expect settlement of their Treaty grievances - likely to top the $170 million awarded to both Ngai Tahu and Waikato Tainui - to produce education and health benefits.
But a market research company survey has found Ngapuhi rate jobs, tribal unity and housing ahead of Treaty settlement as the most important issues facing the tribe today.
Ngapuhi is the largest tribe in Aotearoa and the survey by Horizon Research covered 250 iwi members - 100 of them from Auckland, 58 from Northland, 21 from Waikato, 17 from Wellington, 16 from Bay of Plenty, six overseas and the rest scattered around New Zealand.
The survey was commissioned by Te Ropu o Tuhoronuku, the Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi committee which in 2011 sought a mandate to begin direct Treaty settlement negotiations with the Crown.
The Tuhoronuku mandate was criticised by Te Kotahitanga o nga Hapu Ngapuhi because of its low number of participants, but Crown ministers have indicated alterations to its composition, such as more hapu representatives and divorce from the runanga, could make it acceptable. The Horizon Research survey, carried out last month, follows a similar survey in 2011. Results suggest no fundamental shift in Ngapuhi opinion about what is important from the settlement.