The Treaty Negotiations Minister remains optimistic that all iwi yet to settle with the Crown will reach the negotiation stage by June next year.
Photo: RNZ / Ana Tovey
That's despite Ngāpuhi, the country's largest iwi, having yet to establish a mandate or collectively agree on a negotiation model.
At a Māori Affairs Select Committee today Andrew Little said the Crown was working with 19 groups which were yet to enter negotiations.
He said all were at different stages, including Ngāpuhi, but he believed it was still possible to get all negotiations under way next year.
Mr Little said the Crown had not yet made any formal plans to meet with Ngāpuhi leaders.
In February, it was reported Mr Little had been meeting with representatives of Ngāpuhi to try to find an alternative to the mandate known as Tuhoronuku so that negotiations could begin.
