Tainui votes to dump leaders

By JON STOKES maori issues reporter


Tainui's executive has ousted co-chairmen Tuku Morgan and Haydn Solomon following damning revelations over the tribe's involvement in Government contracts and Mr Morgan's criticism of the Labour Government.

The pair were dumped as joint heads of the 50,000-member iwi at a special meeting of the tribe's executive near Hamilton yesterday.

Former chairman Kingi Porima, himself dumped and replaced by the pair almost a year ago, was re-elected chairman with a 4-3 majority. Four members abstained.

The vote followed a five-hour debate to decide whether to remove Mr Solomon from the executive following his involvement in controversial Corrections Department contracts worth $600,000 and his unauthorised use of tribal funds.

In a report released to the tribe's executive last month, four staff, including Mr Solomon, were accused of invoicing Tainui and Corrections for more than $10,000 each for the same work.

Mr Solomon was also accused of bringing the tribe into disrepute for approving a $15,000 personal grievance claim taken out by a tribal employee against Mr Morgan and chief executive Hemi Rau without board approval.

A motion yesterday to remove Mr Solomon from the executive failed with the vote deadlocked 4-4. Mr Morgan, Mr Solomon and his girlfriend, Justine Berryman, removed themselves from voting.

A special meeting has been called for next week to decide what action to take over the Corrections contract report.

A source on the executive who did not want to be named said Mr Morgan's removal as co-chairman was prompted by his outspoken comments against the Labour Government at the Maori Party launch this month. Tainui MP Nanaia Mahuta was forced to declare she would stay with Labour this month after Mr Morgan claimed that five Waikato iwi had cut ties with Labour.

The source said Mr Morgan's claims angered a number of key tribal members, including the Maori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, who favoured an apolitical stance.

Mr Porima said he was relaxed about regaining his position at the helm of the tribe.

"The mood of the board is very good," he said.

"We have made some strong progress in the last few years, and we need to build on that."

Mr Morgan said he accepted the result and had offered his full support to Mr Porima.

"I support democracy, and will work 110 per cent behind the new chairman."

Mr Porima was credited with implementing commercial changes when he replaced the late Sir Robert Mahuta as chairman. This led to a dramatic turnaround in the tribe's finances.

Tainui Group Holdings, the tribe's financial arm, has recorded a second consecutive 90 per cent jump in net profit, to $15.8 million.

The tribe was on the verge of bankruptcy just four years ago when it suffered losses and asset writeoffs of $42 million.

But Mr Porima's reinstatement as chairman is likely to anger key members of the Kingitanga, the movement behind Maori's royalty.

Kingitanga supporters hold Mr Porima responsible for Dame Te Ata being named as a defendant in court action in 2000, in which he successfully challenged Sir Robert's actions in sacking him and the board.


Power play

Tainui is one of the county's largest iwi, with 50,000 beneficiaries.

The tribe's historic $170 million 1995 settlement was the first in the country.

It has a combined assets base of $220 million.

Recently announced $15.8m profit for the year ending 2004.

Power base of the Kingitanga, headed by the Maori Queen, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.