MP digs out detail on costly iwi talks

More details have emerged about the $745,237 it cost to consult Maori over the Ngawha prison.

It was revealed last month that the Department of Corrections spent the money on consulting iwi over the 350-bed, $132.8 million prison to be built 7km north-east of Kaikohe.

At the time, Corrections Minister Paul Swain said he had requested a report from the department, and would not comment until it had been received.

But Act list MP Muriel Newman, who is from Whangarei, has obtained more details of the payments in answers to parliamentary questions.

The figures reveal that between 1997 and February this year, the department spent $693,759 on consultation fees with Maori over the Ngawha project.

It also spent $23,365 on Maori transport and $6132 on accommodation for Maori during the consultation.

Another $18,554 went on hire and rental costs, $1980 on other costs and $1447 on koha.

Dr Newman said it was outrageous that so much money had been spent on little more than a "talkfest".

The Ngati Rangi Development Society signed a memorandum of partnership with the department in 2001. This set out obligations to assist in the establishment of the prison, including providing site blessings, supplying information on Maori candidates for prison jobs, and giving advice on prison design.

Ngati Rangi Development Society chairman Mac Anania was unavailable to comment yesterday, but said previously the hapu received about $200,000 of the iwi consultation money and he wondered where the rest of the money had gone.

Mr Anania said $90,000 went towards paying for two staff members and administration costs for a year. The society would continue to get $90,000 a year for administration.

- NZPA