Locals united in belief Samuels wrongly accused

By ANGELA GREGORY and VANESSA BIDOIS

Many people who know Dover Samuels will admit that he has had a reputation over the years as a ladies' man.

But the thought that he would knowingly have sex with an underage girl, they simply do not believe to be true.

In the Far North community of Matauri Bay from where the embattled Minister of Maori Affairs hails, and throughout Maoridom, he has found support.

Some will even go so far as to suggest he is the target of a racist sleaze campaign.

Relations of Mr Samuels said yesterday that they remembered him having an affair with a young woman who worked for him in the 1980s.

Mr Samuels had offered her a job and she eventually moved into his house after first living with her foster aunt. At the time, Mr Samuels' wife, Jackie, was in Australia.

Matauri Bay locals remembered the young woman as headstrong and recall clashes between the pair.

One woman remembered Mr Samuels at times "threatening to throw her in the tide."

At the time, locals said, most people did not seem bothered about a sexual liaison between a middle-aged man and a teenage girl, although they say he was criticised to his face.

"She was criticised, too. 'What are you doing with that old man?' some young ones asked her," said one man.

But had the girl been underage they say, Mr Samuels would have "had his arse kicked."

Some women of Matauri Bay, though, were a little "disappointed" about the age gap but rushed to point out the apparent willingness of both parties.

To those who have no knowledge of the past events, like 23-year-old Kani Epiha, the unfolding drama seems tragic.

Mr Epiha said he got on well with his uncle and had worked for Mr Samuels in his restaurant where he was a "good boss."

He accepted that not everyone in the community, particularly the younger generation, liked Mr Samuels who they thought was "greedy and too Pakeha."

Mr Samuels was envied for his successful beachside motel and restaurant at the bay.

Mr Samuels' uncle and local kaumatua, Marlin Epiha, confirmed there was jealousy because Mr Samuels was a "goer" and had a high profile.

But he was sure everyone would stand beside him in his time of need.

"Spiritually we all are going to cuddle him and show our arohanui [love]."

Mr Epiha said the allegations had hit him like a death in the family.

"I feel the way I did when my father died. Everything is blurry and hazy and we are shocked."

He said the accusations hurt everyone - the whanau, the hapu and the Ngapuhi iwi.

But some young relations of Mr Samuels had looked pleased when they heard of his troubles, although they did not believe there was any truth to the accusations.

"We don't think he has done anything for us ... but we don't think it's true."

Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries commissioner and Muriwhenua leader Shane Jones said the minister had widespread support among Northland Maori. He believed that the allegations were politically motivated.

Any Maori MP who undertook an ambitious spending programme was an easy target, Mr Jones said.

"You're going to be fodder to political attack whether you're involved in treaty claims, whether you're a Maori parliamentarian or you're just a prominent figure - it is just part of the territory."

It was a theme picked up by others, including an old friend of Mr Samuels, entertainer Gugi Waaka.

"Maori who try to achieve get their heads shot off by someone like Richard Prebble."

The chairman of Te Runanga o Ngati Hine, Pita Paraone, said he was saddened by the claims, which he blamed on the "tall poppy syndrome."

"I think he should hang in there," Mr Paraone said.

A spokesman for Ngapuhi, Kingi Taurua, said the accusations were an indictment on both Mr Samuels and the iwi as a whole, and he would raise the issue at a tribal hui to be held at the end of this month.

"If it's not true, then this time Richard Prebble will hear about it from us," Mr Taurua said.

"We are actually sick and tired of being picked on by him."

Mr Prebble has defended his bringing the matter to the Prime Minister's attention, saying he felt it was his duty to do so.

He also says he had nothing to do with the information becoming public, a point backed up by the fact that a family member of the young woman has admitted approaching TVNZ himself.

Former New Zealand First MP Tuariki Delamere said he was shocked by the claims, which he hoped were untrue.

"That sort of trouble, you wouldn't wish it on anybody but it's obviously a very serious allegation and Helen [Clark] has to follow it through."

Political commentator Dr Ranginui Walker said that the allegations were old history.

He accused Mr Prebble of playing the race card to attract right- wing voters.

"He failed against [John] Tamihere. He's looking for another target and he's found it," Dr Walker said.

The chairman of the Maori Council, Sir Graham Latimer, refused to comment until the outcome of the investigation was made public.

Veteran Maori rights campaigner Titewhai Harawira said she would wait and see "what comes out in the wash" before she would comment.