Claims Update 13 December 2006
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Significantly in the last month the negotiations process has taken a significant turn. Essentially the OTS team we were dealing with advised us that they were over committed in terms of other negotiation processes with other claimant groups. This meant that if we wanted to continue working with the same team, they wouldn’t be able to meet with us for another six months. Consequently the team has considered the offer of working with the OTS team that dealt with the Te Arawa settlement and decided to work with this new team. We had our first meeting on November 21 and were keen to progress matters, which resulted in a positive meeting.
We met with CFRT in late October to discuss our own progress and also to discuss how we will work our way towards Agreement in Principle. The meeting was positive and we have agreed to produce a new project plan toward June 2007 in order to achieve AIP. This project plan will be finalised over the next two weeks.
We have emailed Ken Clarke of Whanganui Iwi last week and at the time of writing this report we are yet to get a reply. As mentioned in our last report there has been some contact regarding the Kaitoke Prison site where Ngati Apa clearly outline their views and values to some Whanganui Iwi representatives. Correspondence has also followed to confirm our position.
Historical Redress. This matter was discussed at our negotiations meeting in November. OTS is keen to progress this matter as they see a sequential approach as being their way of negotiating. The special considerations remain the key points that we are pursuing in order to depict the history of our relationship with the Crown accurately.
Cultural Redress. We have completed an updated draft of the hapu profiles which have been analysed by the negotiation team and forwarded to OTS. These documents set out statements regarding each hapu rohe, noting sites of significance to hapu and how the Crown has undermined the hapu connection with these areas through the acquisition of hapu lands. From there the current position of the hapu in terms of their development is set out and then the document makes comment of the potential future direction of each hapu. Finally it analyses the Crown properties within each hapu area in a table whereby we can now start to focus in on properties for cultural redress in our negotiations.
Discussions are also occurring with DOC in order to get access to some more remote reserves which are more particularly located in the Ngati Tukorero and Ngati Paenga areas. A couple of these sites are easier to access in the summer period.
The Forestry Report by our economic advisor has been completed. This document is very important to our commercial redress. It provides insight into the forestry issue and options for us to consider in our deliberations.
Registrations are now at 4700. We have received 220 replies from the 500 people who we have followed up from the Tuhono database. We also have 117 people who have registered via the website who are now being followed up for full registrations.