| Claimant funding
The Crown will provide a contribution, through the Office of Treaty Settlements, towards:
. The costs of pre-negotiations, including obtaining a mandate (payable once
the Crown recognises the mandate) agreeing Terms of Negotiation and starting
formal negotiations;
. The costs of negotiations, including reaching a draft Deed of Settlement and
setting up an appropriate post-settlement governance entity to hold and
manage the settlement assets;
. The costs of ratification, which is the cost of confirming acceptance of a
settlement package and the post-settlement governance entity by all members
of a claimant group.
To ensure fairness, the level of funding provided depends on a number of factors including the complexity of the claim, the size and spread of the claimant group, overlapping claim interests, and whether there are specific issues within the group that will need particular attention during the negotiations process. Claimant funding is provided in instalments throughout the negotiations process depending on the progress being made.
Claimant groups may wish to supplement their funding by seeking support from bodies such as the Crown Forestry Rental Trust.
Mandated representatives are also expected to be accountable to their wider membership for any funds received from the Office of Treaty Settlements. The Crown also needs assurances that the funding has been expended only on negotiations expenses.
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