Associate Maori Affairs Minister John Tamihere has accused ageing tribal leaders of "strangling" their younger successors by refusing to step aside.
In an attack that could alienate him further from traditional iwi organisations, Mr Tamihere said kaumatua were preventing the next generation of Maori leaders from taking over.
"I'm just saying to
them that you are now strangling all this latent energy that is starting to come through rather than co-opt it."
He named Crown Forest Rental Trust chairman Sir Graham Latimer, 77, prominent Maori Council member Maanu Paul, 64, Ngati Porou leader Api Mahuika, "not quite 70", and Hauraki Maori Trust Board chairman Toko Renata, 70.
While they had led Treaty of Waitangi claims and won settlements, that did not automatically mean they could effectively handle and distribute the assets. The focus had to change from winning settlements to handling them and delivering them back to Maori, he said.
Mr Tamihere, 44, whose focus is on urban Maori, is widely touted as the long-term successor to Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia.
But his adversarial attitude towards traditional iwi groups could stop him winning enough support for the role.
Mr Tamihere said the next generation of leaders was talented and had succeeded in private business.
But they were blocked from doing the same within Maoridom because of the "language Nazis", who insisted on fluency in Maori. "They've got no point of entry. The old guard are locking it up and controlling it."
Mr Renata rejected Mr Tamihere's claims and said younger leaders needed to go through the ranks.
"We have younger people coming through the marae and they are told to take their ties off and start washing dishes first so they can come through the initiation and education process."
Mr Mahuika accused Mr Tamihere of speaking about something he knew nothing about.
"He may be familiar with what happens in an urban environment but he certainly doesn't know what happens in a tribal environment."
- NZPA
