Treaty Minister still aiming to settle all claims by 2014

The National Government's target of settling all Treaty claims by 2014 will require it to churn through about 20 a year. There are about 65 settlement claims which are yet to be completed - far more than the 27 that have gone through since the settlement process began in the early 1990s.

Of those still under way, 20 are in negotiations and about 45 more are yet to begin, although some of those could become collective negotiations.

However, Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson remains optimistic of reaching the Government's goal of settling all historical claims by 2014.

"We will if we keep up the current pace, and if we don't get there, it will be very close," he said.

The target sets him a task of about 20 settlements a year. He expects to pass legislation for 15 in the next year.

He will also have to see through settlements with individual Auckland iwi on top of their collective settlement for the volcanic cones.

Another major deal will be the Far North Te Hiku Forum collective, a grouping of five iwi with an agreement in principle worth $120 million.

The Government has put extra money into the process to speed it up, including appointing "facilitators" and people to help claimant groups.

Mr Finlayson is also likely to have to deal with the relativity clause, which gives Ngai Tahu and Waikato-Tainui the right to return to the negotiating table if the total value of all settlements exceeds $1 billion.