Ngāpuhi hapū reject Treaty of Waitangi proposal

4:25 pm on 9 December 2018

A new proposal for Treaty negotiations has had the thumbs down from a majority of Ngāpuhi hapū.

From left: Pita Tipene (co-chair of hapū alliance Te Kotahitanga);   Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little;  Tuhoronuku chair Hone Sadler;  Ngāpuhi rūnanga chair Sonny (Raniera)Tau, Rudy Tayor, co-chair Te Kotahitanga.

Ngāpuhi leaders with Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little - from left Pita Tipene, Mr Little, Hone Sadler, Sonny Tau, and Rudy Taylor. Photo: Supplied

The iwi's many hapū have been holding endorsement hui for the past three weeks, on a revised mandate.

But on the last day of voting, the 'no' votes have already passed the threshold of 38 - at which the mandate is declared rejected.

Moe Milne facilitated one of the last hapū hui in Whangarei today, for Tekau i Mua - where people voted 143 to 4 against the mandate .

She said the Crown needed to start from scratch with the mandate, listen to the hapū and work together with them on a new blueprint.

Ngāpuhi people can also vote on the mandate as individuals and the results of that vote will be known this week.

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