The Ngapuhi leader Sonny Tau has rejected a report on his iwi's mandate issues by the Tainui leader Tukoroirangi Morgan.
Mr Morgan was appointed by the Government to try to resolve hapu concerns over the makeup of Tuhoronuku - the runanga body set up to secure a mandate to settle Treaty claims.
But Mr Tau says Mr Morgan's report is an insult to the mana of Ngapuhi.
The report suggests the Crown starts the Ngapuhi mandate process again with a new representation model.
Mr Tau is dismissing it as an amateurish attempt to re-engineer Ngapuhi social and political structures.
He says Tuhoronuku gained the approval of 76% of Ngapuhi voters for its mandate to settle the claim but the Minister of Treaty Negotiations has refused to recognise or publish it.
Tuhoronuku has released its deed of mandate on its website.
