Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little has re-opened the conversation with Ngāpuhi, in a low-key visit to the north this week.
Treaty Negotiations Minister Andrew Little has met with hapū on both sides of the mandate divide in the past week. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
It's Mr Little's first bid to convene an iwi-wide hui since a revised plan to negotiate terms for a treaty settlement was decisively rejected last year.
The minister has met with hapū on both sides of the mandate divide in the past week, to sound them out on any progress towards negotiations.
Mr Little has said it was clear Ngapuhi did not support the earlier proposal for an iwi-wide settlement.
But he has been reluctant to deal with smaller hapū groupings, saying the majority must be ready to negotiate first, with an overall plan in place.
This week he's met the small group of hapū who said yes to the mandate and, separately, with those who rejected it, including Ngāti Hine who want their own settlement.
This afternoon he's hosting a meeting at Waitangi where hapū on all sides of the debate will come together for the first time this year.