Cash offers rare, never pocketed

Barry Curtis

Manukau City mayor Sir Barry Curtis is a virtual Pacific chief, but says he has never been given a cent by Pacific Islanders for helping them out.

Sir Barry, who has been granted the Samoan title of Seiuli, has enjoyed his fair share of fine mats and fat pigs but has never been offered cash.

Mangere MP Taito Phillip Field is under scrutiny for accepting money, which he says he passed on to the Labour Party, from Pacific island people in his role as an MP.

He told an inquiry the money was given to him as part of Samoan cultural practice.

But Sir Barry said he had never been offered cash in his role as a local body politician and mayor.

"I go to at least two functions a month ... I've never been offered a dollar in the last 23 years."

Rather, he said, the council gave cash koha to cultural groups which performed on his behalf at citizenship ceremonies, for example, to help with their expenses.

Sir Barry said he was sometimes given a huge roasted pig which he would pass on to a worthy family.

"I don't eat pig, nor would I."

He said that given his status of Seiuli he had also been given traditional mats.

"In some cases I have passed them on to schools or they hang in my office for a time."

At times the council was offered large cheques in gratitude for assistance with building projects, and Sir Barry said he always directed those donations to Otara's Maori wardens.

Any liquor contributions would be saved for the council's Christmas party.

Councillor and former MP Arthur Anae said cash gifts to politicians were not uncommon in Samoa and at times they could be construed as an attempt to "pad the palm".

In New Zealand such a practice was clearly unacceptable, he said.

"When you are in Parliament you know to never take cash from anybody ... if offered I'd put it back in their pockets."

Mr Anae said there was a difference between gifts of cash and gifts of handicraft, which it would be insulting not to keep.

He said it was also appropriate for church ministers to take cash at funerals and weddings as they were personal occasions.

"That is acceptable. It would be rude not to accept."

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey said he had never been offered money, but he did sometimes get T-shirts which he felt obliged to wear.

The council also had a gift register and a set of guidelines which told councillors to avoid any financial situations which might compromise their integrity.

Samoan lawyer Olinda Woodroffe said there were ways of dealing with cultural giving while maintaining professionalism.

At times she was offered extra cash in gratitude for her efforts but always receipted the amount and then just deducted it from her client's bill or put it in their trust account.

"I'm not stuffing it in my pocket."

At other times she would be offered lunch, but would ask her clients to use the food for their children instead.

Mrs Woodroffe said her Palagi (European) church minister was recently offered an envelope of cash by a Samoan parishioner and had asked her what do with it.

"I said, 'Stick it in your discretionary fund, then it can go to a needy family."'

The Weekend Herald understands not all church ministers are so selfless, some personally profiting from what can be generous cash handouts from the Pacific community.

But Romaeh Iakopo, the wife of a Manukau church minister, said money supplied through mea alofa (donations) was usually returned to the community in some way.

"We use the money to help fund the church or put it towards kids' living expenses ... we also make a donation to the Salvation Army."

Mangere College principal John Heyes said he had never been offered money from Pacific Island families who might want help with their children.

He had not heard of any such practice relating to schools.

Mr Heyes said he came across plenty of young people "bridling" at what was expected of their families in terms of giving money to churches and the like.