Solomon vows to fight back

Haydn Solomon says his dumping from Tainui's ruling council was "payback" - and he plans to fight it.

Mr Solomon was dumped on Monday in a 7-0 vote from which he and his partner, Justine Berryman, abstained.

The former chairman of Tekaumaarua, the Tainui executive, said the move was "payback" for being "a vocal critic" of tribe management.

But chairman Kingi Porima said the action was taken because of Mr Solomon's involvement in Corrections Department prison contracts. A report sent to the executive in August alleged "double dipping" by Mr Solomon and three Tainui staff members.

The vote means Mr Solomon loses his place on the Tekaumaarua, his position on Te Kauhanganui (the iwi's parliament) and his role as co-director of Tainui Group Holdings. He is the fourth member to be removed this year after Koro Wetere, Peter Tuteao and Tuku Morgan became casualties of an eligibility ruling.

Mr Porima said the vote to remove Mr Solomon was taken "after lengthy consideration of matters relating to the Corrections Department contracts".

Mr Solomon said the executive had not given his legal advisers time to respond to the report. He would begin legal action against the board on the grounds that he had not been allowed to challenge the allegations.

He said he would continue to be outspoken in his criticism of what he saw as poor governance and management within Tainui. "They got rid of me because I openly challenged the conduct of management."

Mr Porima said Mr Solomon's position would be open to the 13 candidates already nominated for Tekaumaarua elections at the tribe's annual meeting on November 27.

- NZPA