Decision ends months of doubts for Samuels

By ROSINA TRIPONEL AND STAFF REPORTERS

At Easter, amid the peace of his beloved Matauri Bay, Dover Samuels seemed to sense the way his career as Minister of Maori Affairs might end.

While he was sure he would last the three-year term and had the ability to drive the "closing the gaps" policies, doubts dogged him about the loyalty of his inner circle and of Helen Clark.

"I am aware of underhanded action on the part of some to undermine my position.

"I'm supposed to have the Prime Minister's support and yet the majority of decisions are made by her ... so make of that what you will. There's so much bullshit going on in politics."

Yet he did not consider his grip on the job was in jeopardy.

He admitted he had made errors.

"In all aspects of life we make the best decisions we can at the time. I've made many mistakes in my life, business, relationships ... but always I have tried to do my best and be a better person for the mistakes I have made."

He shared this wisdom with others, in March telling students at the troubled St Stephen's School that they must drop their macho images and leave egos on the rugby field.

"You must put a stop to this violence once and for all."

Violence was a theme he had dealt with before. "Proud of their macho image, too many Maori men want to dominate their partners through violence," he said in August 1997.

Asked at Easter if anything "untoward" might pose a threat to his career, Mr Samuels said he had done nothing to be ashamed of, but acknowledged his past could be an issue.

"In each case I have tried to reconcile differences, tried to make amends as best I could. Why should I then keep having to answer for the past? For more than 14 years I have been a good husband, father, businessman and politician. That has to count for something.

"If it's good enough for God to forgive and forget why can't others?

"I shouldn't have to keep paying for the past."

But this year, and increasingly brutally in the past week, Mr Samuels has found his past will not go away, and while God may be forgiving, politics rarely is.

His elevation to the cabinet in December should have been the pinnacle of his career. Instead, it was the beginning of the end.

A series of staff problems and tensions marked his early months in the job.

And a more dangerous fuse had been lit behind the scenes.

The mother of a teenager with whom he had an affair in the 1980s alleged her daughter had been underage.

Last week, that became public, but Mr Samuels rejected the allegations and stood aside.

A promise to return him to the cabinet if police found no illegality was withdrawn and Helen Clark set a stiffer test: could he be an effective minister?

Yesterday, the Herald published further allegations, including the assault of his brother and a troubled relationship with an Australian woman.

In reply, Mr Samuels accused the Herald of running an agenda and said he had put the matter in the hands of his lawyer.

He also said some of the allegations were a fabrication, but would not say which ones.

"There are some allegations here that you have taken completely out of context for obvious reasons," said Mr Samuels. He would not say what the reasons were.

"Isn't it unusual for a newspaper to start conducting some sort of kangaroo court inquiry?"

At Easter he was clear about what he wanted for the future.

More time for his family, hapu and business.

"This is the first time I've had an opportunity to spend a few days with them. So much bullshit going on in Wellington.

"I think I have support and yet find, perhaps, I don't have it at all.

"This place is my refuge ... the sea, I love the sea."

But even close to home there are mixed feelings about his demise.

Kani Epiha, who is related to Mr Samuels, said she would stand by him.

"It is a tragedy ... But we knew it was coming. We have always supported Dover."

However, Cleon Samuels, a relative by marriage, last night told the Herald that Mr Samuels' sacking was "karma."

"There's a lot of people up here who are quite happy he's gone. They wouldn't have the gumption to say it publicly, but they are. This isn't the first nasty he's done - you could write a book on the man.

"He could have been of so much good to so many people, but instead he just thinks of himself."

* Rosina Triponel is a columnist with the Maori publication TU mai, who spent Easter at Matauri Bay interviewing the Samuels.