A steam-roller approach to treaty settlement is not working for Ngapuhi and the Government should take a breather, Northland MP Winston Peters says.
Northland MP Winston Peters at Tuhirangi Marae Photo: RNZ / Lois Williams
Minister for Treaty Negotiations Chris Finlayson has announced that negotiations are about to start on the massive claim.
But Mr Peters said the process had become extremely messy, with many hapu left out and the Waitangi Tribunal investigating their complaints that the mandate was dubious.
He said pushing on regardless was likely to end up in court action, delays and protest and no-one in the north - Maori or Pakeha - wanted that.
Mr Peters said the minister had not responded to his offer to help mediate the mandate dispute.