Taranaki iwi Ngāti Maru is to hold a series of hui next month which could set it on the road to entering into treaty negotiations with the Crown.
The slopes of Mount Taranaki. Photo: Pseudopanax at en.wikipedia
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Maru (Taranaki) Trust chairman Holden Hohaia said it would be seeking a mandate at the hui to represent Taranaki's smallest iwi in negotiations with the Crown.
The hui will take place in Taranaki, Taumarunui and Lower Hutt.
The iwi's approximately 1000 registered members will vote via a ballot or post on whether to accept the trust as having a mandate to conduct negotiations on their behalf, with the vote administered by Elections.com.
Mr Hohaia said the trust did not want to rush iwi members, and the hui were the first step in what would be a long process.
If a mandate is won, Ngāti Maru will become the last of Taranaki's eight iwi to begin the treaty settlement process.
