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Regional | Ngāpuhi

Winston Peters counted on to assist with Ngāpuhi treaty settlement

Newly elected Northland MP Winston Peters was at Waimā today where the Waitangi Tribunal Hearings for the Ngāpuhi settlement are taking place.This follows a plea by Te Kotahitanga o Ngā Hapu o Ngāpuhi co-chairman Rudy Taylor for Mr Peters to consider a role in helping Ngāpuhi through its treaty settlement.

Mr Peters described this part of the Hokianga as an isolated rural hub with no mobile service and low in employment.

According to Mr Peters, "The government's hit a serious road block here things seem to be in badly store there's a lot of animosity and we've got to get passed that road block and the animosity and get a proper settlement."

Ngāpuhi have been in a long bitter dispute over who has a mandate to negotiate with the Crown.  There are high hopes that Winston will be able to resolve this issue.

Tomorrow the Tribunal hearings at Tuhirangi Marae are set to come to a close and a report from the Waitangi Tribunal urgency hearing on the Ngāpuhi mandate is expected later this year.