By PAUL YANDALL
Tainui will appeal against a High Court decision that has cleared the way for the Warriors rugby league club to be sold.
But the potential buyer, the New Zealand Rugby League, has warned that further delays could spell the end of the struggling club.
Last Friday, Justice Grant Hammond allowed the tribe's executive, Tekaumarua, to proceed with the sale of the Warriors to the NZRL for $400,000, plus about $2 million of its debts. He rejected an injunction application filed by the tribe's principal negotiator, Sir Robert Mahuta.
In a rare interview at Tainui's Hopuhopu headquarters in Ngaruawahia, Sir Robert said yesterday that Tainui would not tolerate its future being determined by "Pakeha law."
Flanked by dozens of advisers and supporters, he said Tainui would fight for the right to settle its disputes internally.
"What right does the court have to tell us how to run our affairs? I did not spend 40 years negotiating our settlement just to have some 'white daddy' tell us what to do."
He said a legal challenge to the court decision was being prepared and would be pursued all the way to Parliament if need be.
Sir Robert also revealed that the two sides in the dispute had spent up to a combined $400,000 of the tribe's money on legal fees since the dispute over who held Tainui's purse-strings reached the courts last month.
NZRL chairman Gerald Ryan said he was shocked at the announcement of a possible appeal, as a further delay in selling the club, which has debts of $8.6 million, could see it placed in receivership. The club owes Tainui $6.27 million and has to pay a tax bill of almost $500,000 by the end of the week.
"I can't believe it. If it goes ahead then that's the end of it," he said.
"The [Australian-based] National Rugby League will revoke the licence and the Warriors will be canned. This is what you call cutting your own throat."
Mr Ryan said he had been negotiating yesterday with two potential partners for the NZRL in the venture, but an appeal would be sure to scare some of them off.
He said a preferred partner had been found, but he refused to reveal who it was.
The NZRL would meet two more potential partners today before calling a special general meeting of its board for tomorrow to approve a partner and sign a sale agreement.
"Selling the club is the best thing Tainui can do.
"Tekaumarua have acted in their best interests, and league's interests. The sale can't be delayed now."
But Sir Robert said the Warriors players were role models for the tribe's young people and Tainui's investment in the club was long-term.
The acting chairman of Tekaumarua, Kingi Porima, said an appeal by Sir Robert would be a blow to the tribe.
"It's sad for us, but it's not surprising. He has the right to do this."
Mr Porima said it was ironic that Sir Robert should criticise the jurisdiction of the courts when he had been happy to take part in the High Court proceedings and was now preparing an appeal.
Iwi appeal against 'white daddy' could kill club
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