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After years of stability within Waikato Tainui, political infighting could take it back to court as some leaders push for restructuring.
The tribe has a complex governance, management and commercial structure made up of Te Kauhanganui, its Parliament; Te Arataura, an executive board chaired by Tuku Morgan; the administrative arm, Waikato Raupatu Lands Trust, headed by chief executive Hemi Rau; and a commercial branch, Tainui Group Holdings.
In the past year Te Arataura has been working to change those structures, but this came to a head at Saturday's parliamentary meeting where a final plan that included provisions for the disestablishment of Mr Rau's position was presented to tribal members.
Mr Rau is understood to be taking legal action, including an injunction against the restructuring. Te Kauhanganui is also considering legal action.
Its chairman, Tom Roa, said he was constrained by what he could say, except that the situation was difficult for staff members.
Mr Morgan and Mr Rau are key players in Tainui politics with strong factionalised supporters and opponents.
Mr Rau declined to comment yesterday, but in a letter obtained by the Herald he said the real point of restructuring was to get rid of him.
"This is a personal vendetta being carried out by some board members who continue to pursue personal agendas in retribution for conflicts I had with them as a former board member."
Mr Morgan said he wanted to crush any suggestion that the restructure was about "personality" politics. Instead, the changes, which include 10 new positions headed by a new group chief executive who will have responsibilities across the different arms, was about modernising the tribe's structures.
"This is about better cohesion, this is about better co-ordination across the group, this is not about personalities. The single focus is about bringing greater synergy between the tribe's commercial, cultural and social interests without disrupting the tribe's economic interests."
He did not want to address what any court action would do to the tribe.
"Right now, I'm not going to deal with presuming what's going to happen in the future."
Mr Morgan said he met affected staff members and told them they could apply for vastly "superior" positions.
The restructuring had been on the cards for the past 16 months, and had been mandated for in April this year by more than 80 per cent of Te Kauhanganui members, he said.
But tribal sources said it was the issue that divided people at Saturday's meeting.
"Basically, it was debated vigorously with the majority of people not knowing what's going on. They said 'we want to discuss this at the next kauhanganui meeting'. On Monday morning the CEO and his [executive assistant] were technically sacked - although they're calling it restructuring."
The move comes as this Parliament, which is made up of representatives from more than 60 marae, winds up its representative term. In February, a new group take up their positions at Te Kauhanganui.
