We've got nothing to hide, says hapu

By JON STOKES

A Northland hapu has rejected accusations that it is hiding legal and financial reports on its handling of a $15.6 million Treaty of Waitangi settlement.

Te Uri O Hau deputy chairman Wayne Smith has called for the reports, commissioned by the hapu's eight-member trust this year from lawyers Lowndes Associates and accountants the Gibson Group, to be released to beneficiaries.

Attempts by the Herald to publish details of the reports, which were completed in February, have prompted threats of legal action by lawyers acting for the trust.

Trust chairman Russell Kemp said an urgent meeting was held yesterday and a committee was appointed to respond to Mr Smith's claims.

"We have nothing to hide," said Mr Kemp. "We have already been around the marae.

"Copies of the reports were left at two of the four marae."

Mr Smith wants a full audit of Te Uri O Hau company accounts, a freeze on some transactions, and for former chairman Sir Graham Latimer to stand down from the trust until the audit is complete.

Oruawharo marae chairman Ben de Thierry said he was disappointed with the way beneficiaries were being treated by trustees.

"We put our member in there, he [Mr Smith] is deputy chair. The trust are trying to gag him from reporting back to his marae.

"On the 25th at the AGM you will see who has the support of the people."

Otamatea marae member Paul Paikea, second cousin of former Northern Maori MP Tapihana Paraire Paikea, has echoed calls for the reports to be released and branded trust communication as "absolutely hopeless".

"There hasn't been any communication. It is sad. I, and most of the iwi, want to know what's happening. I want to know what is in those reports. They were supposed to hold meetings. It hasn't happened.

"I support what Wayne is doing. He is asking the questions that we all want to know."

Waiaotea marae member Mikaera Miru, who has read the reports, wants them released.

"Our people need to know what is happening. Those reports are damning and now they [trustees] are closing things down. What is even more outrageous is they are using treaty settlement money to block hapu members."

Mr Miru said moves were under way to mobilise beneficiaries.

"We are going to do everything we can to have those responsible removed."

Mr Kemp said there was a process of resolving issues over the employment of trustees.

"There is a process and a way of how we want to do that. I would rather not explain to the Herald right now. I am not saying it will be repaid. A lot of those people had to carry the settlement on their own backs."

Mr Kemp said most of the recommendations made in the reports would be addressed.

"There is a group coming back with the final recommendations from the report next week."

These will be made available at the annual meeting.

He said he was unwilling to discuss the trust's financial situation.

"I prefer to explain that at the AGM. I do not have a copy of the report in front of me so cannot comment on details. You might have to talk to Lowndes to clarify that."

The trust was reconsidering its decision to block publication of the reports.

"We were working through the report with our lawyers and all of a sudden it was sprung on us that the report was going to be released.

"I'm not too sure if we want to block the story any more. If people want to tell their story, you pretty much need to give up the ghost and let the people do what they want to do."