8 Apr 2013

High Court rules iwi body can't yet conclude deed

6:33 am on 8 April 2013

A High Court has ruled that an Auckland tribal body, Ngai Tai ki Tamaki Tribal Trust, cannot yet conclude a Deed of Settlement with the Crown.

A court judgement has been released following applications by two groups of Ngai Tai ki Tamaki Tribal Trust that have been torn apart by differing views.

It said both sides argue that the other has acted improperly and should be removed as trustees.

The court ordered all trustees to be removed and an election be held on or before 31 July.

The judgement said that pending the trustee election, Treaty negotiations with the Crown may continue but shall not be concluded.

Ngai Tai ki Tamaki has so far signed an Agreement in Principle with the Crown.

However, the Crown's chief negotiator in Auckland, Mike Dreaver, says the court ruling will not pose a problem because a deed of settlement would not be ready for initialling before September.