David Tapsell’s (OTS) response to the letter from the Ngati Aukiwa Working Group dated 12 September 2014.
In summary, the Ngati Aukiwa Working Group told the Crown that the NKWTB no longer had the mandate and that the Crown needed to negotiate with them not just for Stoney Creek Farm but the Thompson and Clarke blocks as well. The Crown’s response was very blunt as per the attached letter. David Tapsell (Crown Facilitator) told the Working Group that the Crown only recognized the NKWTB as holding the mandate to negotiate, and that he would need to seek the Minister’s direction.