By PAUL YANDALL
HAMILTON - A Tainui leader who resigned from the tribe's executive council, Tekaumarua, has criticised it for lacking business acumen and for challenging the Maori Queen's authority.
Puaha Tomo, representative of the Waahi Marae at Huntly, resigned from the council 11 days ago after it sacked Sir Robert Mahuta as director of Tainui's subsidiary companies.
In documents obtained by the Herald, Mr Tomo said the council did not have the skills needed to guide the tribe through its financial difficulties, and had blatantly disobeyed the wishes of the Maori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, when it sacked Sir Robert on July 14.
Sir Robert is her representative on the 12-member council and remains Tainui's principal negotiator.
In his letter of resignation, Mr Tomo stated that Tekaumarua's decision to sack Sir Robert "challenged the legitimacy, authority, status and mana of the Kahui Ariki [royal family], Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu."
He said the dismissal diminished Sir Robert's integrity and credibility.
In another letter to Tainui's parliament, Te Kauhanganui, Mr Tomo said the tribe's subsidiary companies needed someone of Sir Robert's calibre. He was Tainui's most experienced businessman and negotiator, and some members of the council lacked those skills.
He also criticised Tekaumarua for having "totally abdicated our financial matters to [financial management company] Ferrier Hodgson, who are charging the tribe astronomical fees for their services."
Mr Tomo recommended that when Ferrier Hodgson's contract ended in September the tribe should form its own, inhouse strategic committee with Sir Robert as chairman.
Tekaumarua acting chairman Kingi Porima said yesterday that he would not comment on affairs concerning the Maori Queen, but he rejected the criticisms Mr Tomo had made of the council's actions.
He said there was sufficient business experience on Tekaumarua to manage the tribe's affairs, and it was ironic for Mr Tomo to criticise the use of Ferrier Hodgson since it had been contracted while Sir Robert was in charge.
"The most stunning thing about this is that he [Mr Tomo] has left Sir Robert on his own, whereas he should have stuck with him and stayed on the council.
"He's eroded Sir Robert's own power base by leaving."
Mr Tomo's resignation is the second from the council in the space of two months.
Horahora Marae representative Tom Moana resigned in June after being charged with fraud.
Tribal council accused of blunders
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