Who are the Claimants ? What are the Grievances ? The Settlement Process Coming Together as Kurahaupo The Treaty of Waitangi Settlement process was developed to resolve historical grievances between Maori and the Crown. It involves extensive negotiation between claimant groups and the government. To ensure that the process flows as smoothly as possible it has become necessary that claimants satisfy certain key requirements before the negotiation process can begin. At present: The Crown will only negotiate a settlement with 'a large natural grouping'. A large natural grouping is regarded as a Maori group with clear kinship links and a sizeable membership and claim area. Negotiating with a large natural grouping makes the process of settlement easier to manage and work through, provides greater opportunity for using the various forms of redress (the term used for all the ways the Crown can make amends for the wrongs it has done) and helps deal with overlapping interests. It has been the preference of the individual Iwi to negotiate with the Crown for the settlement of their historic claims individually. In order to progress their claims the Iwi have agreed to form a Large Natural Group to meet the Crown's request. The Minister has been informed of this by letter dated 16 September 2004. In September 2004 Ngati Apa, Ngati Kuia and Rangitane signed a Heads of Agreement which recognised that the linking together of the three Iwi is a natural and logical association for the purposes of Treaty settlement negotiation. The Kurahaupo grouping reflects:           The commonality of the evidence given during the WAI 785 enquiry           Natural relations/shared whakapapa           Contemporary arrangements           Historical alliances           Land based connections An application was made to the Minister of Treaty Negotiations seeking confirmation of Kurahaupo as an acceptable Large Natural Group to enter into negotiations with the Crown and this was granted in November 2004. On December 2nd 2004 Kurahaupo Ki Te Waipounamu Trust was formally established. © Copyright Kurahaupo Ki Te Waipounamu Trust