The government has opened the door for a new group to negotiate the Ngāpuhi treaty settlement, saying it no longer recognises the mandate of Tūhoronuku.
But many hapū in Te Tai Tokerau remain unconvinced the Crown will listen to what they have to say, and they're furious the Treaty Negotiations Minister has given them just four days notice to meet with him.
Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little says he will no longer work with Tūhoronuku, the group the Crown initially recognised as having the mandate to negotiate the Ngāpuhi settlement.
The move has been hailed by the government as a new opportunity - a fresh start - for takiwā and hapū to discuss how area-specific cultural redress should be negotiated, and what a new mandate process should look like.
But Te Uri Taniwha hapū representative, Hinerangi Himiona, says she's extremely frustrated, because that is what hapū have been asking for for years.
The evolved mandate model was rejected by 70 of Ngāpuhi's 110 hapū last year.
Te whiu hapū representative, Sam Napia, says he can't believe the Treaty Negotiations Minister has now given hapū just four days' notice to meet with him about a new way forward.
Tūhoronuku stalwarts Sonny Tau and Hone Sadler both resigned as chair from the group this year.
Sam Napia, also a former chair, says Tūhoronuku lost the backing of the iwi because it lost touch with the people at the grassroots.
Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little intends to meet with hapū and takiwā over the next six months.
Ngāti Hine chair, Pita Tipene, says many hapū have already been mobilising to be in a position to negotiate with the Crown.
But he's not holding his breath that this renewed effort by the Crown will get the settlement back on track. And he has a word of warning for the Minister this time around.
The government is also considering establishing a new Ngāpuhi sovereign investment fund to help provide assets which could be used in any agreement for redress with Ngāpuhi.
