A 636-signature petition calling for negotiations between the Crown and Ngāti Whatua to halt has been delivered by Northland hapū who say they have not consented to being part of the mandate.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whatua hold the Crown-recognised mandate to negotiate historical Treaty claims on behalf of the iwi, but petition organiser Nicki Wakefield said that mandate includes areas of interest affecting Northland hapū who have not consented to being part of the package.
"When someone steals something, you kind of hope that it will be given back to the people it was stolen off and this raises questions on whether that's possible for those who suffered by those Crown breaches," she said.
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The petition was formed following a public meeting held at Whangārei Terenga Parāoa Marae on October 23 which was attended by uri (descendants) from Hokianga, Bay of Islands, Whangārei and Kaipara.