Hide puts the heat on Horomia

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia is facing another gruelling week in Parliament as opposition MPs focus on new allegations about Te Mangai Paho (TMP).

ACT MP Rodney Hide, leading the charge, said Mr Horomia should be sacked.

"There will certainly be questions every day to him about the state of TMP," he told NZPA.

"It will be crucial for Mr Horomia to front up in Parliament. These allegations are very serious."

Mr Hide said Prime Minister Helen Clark should sack the minister.

"They have to dismiss him... they've poured millions of dollars into Maori television and TMP to get it up and running, they can't do that unless they've got a minister who is on top of his portfolio," he said.

"I don't think he's energetic enough, or demanding enough, of his officials to get on top of what are some very demanding issues. I don't think he's capable of it."

Mr Hide and National's broadcasting spokeswoman, Katherine Rich, said yesterday they would take documents to the auditor-general and demand a full inquiry into allegations reported by the Sunday Star Times.

The newspaper said its investigation disclosed that TMP chief executive Trevor Moeke had tried to recover property from a programme production company which was in liquidation.

It also reported that funds were used to lease a car for an executive who worked for a law firm involved in housing buy-back deals which the Serious Fraud Office was investigating.

The Sunday Star Times also reported that the Maori Television Service agreed to a deal for expensive offices, contrary to government statements, and that some of the buy-back housing deals were intended to fund those offices.

"Trevor Moeke can't survive this. Nor can Parekura Horomia," the MPs said.

Mr Horomia has been under attack in Parliament for three weeks over TMP after a Treasury report confirmed that one of its former employees, Tame Te Rangi, had been involved in authorising grants for a Maori broadcasting company which had paid him for sports commentary work.

Mr Horomia initially denied Mr Te Rangi received any cash, but had to admit he was wrong. He said he had received incorrect information from his officials.

TMP's chairman, Toby Curtis, resigned when the Treasury report was released. Wira Gardiner was appointed interim chairman, and put Mr Moeke under review.

Mr Gardiner expects to announce the result of the review later this week.

Prime Minister Helen Clark today told TVNZ's Breakfast programme that Mr Horomia had been badly let down by his officials.

"Remember, he does not have day to day control over Te Mangai Paho or Maori television for that matter. Maori television has its own board, it is funded by Te Mangai Paho, it is an autonomous crown agency, it has its own board, his department is expected to monitor that.

"Now, if Te Mangai Paho is giving bad advice back to the ministry, the ministry gives bad advice to the minister, and it's the minister who ends up not being able to give the right answer to the question because he was never given it."

Miss Clark said she believed Mr Horomia was a "good minister".

"I think he's hard-working, he's conscientious, he has a very, very good reputation in Maoridom. He has been badly let down."

- NZPA