Treaty Claims: These are in full swing in Aotearoa as I write. The Central North Island ones are almost through; its only a few more days and the deed will be done. This has got to be one of the best led and processed. The Te Arawa iwi, Tuwharetoa, Tuhoe, Ngati Raukawa, and others will benefit from this mainly forestry deal. I went to the final consultation hui at Pukawa, Taupo where the Kingitanga began. Well that's OK for them and goodluck.

Now what about us in the north in Ngati Kahu? Suddenly we are back in negotiations after a two year delay and the elections approach. What's happened is that the Crown has changed its stratedgy. DOC lands are now proposed as a statutory form of management with us in charge. There's some sticky points to overcome although I thought that their view that if such boards do anything illegal they want out. It seems to me that no one would willingly do any such thing but there's an assumption that Maori might. They are now talking about Rangiputa and this would be the hardest whenua to get back. Without giving anything away I think for our Ngati Kahu specific claims we are close. Our Shared interests with other iwi may take a little longer. It's after the settlement we need to watch out for.