SECURITIES COMMISSION NEEDLED BY CACTUS

Cactus has yet again shown her literary genius.

While her piss take of the Hanover issue is outstanding , we think that Hanover are a complete bunch of greedy and immoral pricks and they deserve everything that the Securities Commission can chuck at them - even if it does take a while.

Cactus is none too kind on the legal profession either.

If you read nothing else today - read Cactus's letter from Chaos and Mayhem. The legal firm everyone would really like to hire.

TA TIPENE BACK AT THE TABLE BUT CHOKING ON HANOVER PIE?

There is a very good chance that Sir Tip is going to sitting round the big tribal Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu table again as the alternate delegate for the Awarua Runanga.

We are a bit gobsmacked that the southern cuzzies have not thought through the whole succession planning issue. Maria Pera has been at the table pretty much since the Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu was formed. However our understanding is that the Bluff runanga wanted some fresh meat and looked for a new face as an alternate delegate whom Maria could train up to take over. Instead they got some really old sinewy tough as an old boot over done mutton chop. However, despite Mark Solomon being Tipenes protege, they no longer share a deep affection for each other, so Tipene's occasional presence at the table wont do Mark any favours.

We also think that with todays announcement that Mark Hotchin of Hanover fame has had his assets frozen, that Tipene will be a little distracted. He was apparently the chair of the Hanover audit committee.

Watch that space.

A NOD IS AS GOOD AS A WINK TO A BLIND HORSE

We noticed a bit of traffic today from hitherto unknown quarters. We had a look see and it was coming from Dimpost. We dont read dim that much - we know he has a strong following on both the left and right simply because he understands and uses to great effect satire. However, to us, most of the time his satire seems more like its low brow cousin - sarcasm.

Anyway we think , (we apparently don't have the intellectual capacity for great thought) that Dim has called us a bobblehead. For a nano second we thought he might have meant booby head - but no we put on our nana portholes and read closely to see it was indeed bobble head. Which was a bit better than being called a sucky licky person.

Now we do not mind being called an intellectual pygmy , we have enough big brained mates to do all the grunt work for us , we are waay to busy to analyse everything this world has on offer but we are not nor will ever be an acquiescing bobble head. We might not be a deep thinker but we remain an independent thinker and we think a lot .Maybe its our frequency of thought that dilutes its potency.

n the matter of bobbleheads in fact we were famous for 3 minutes once for publicly giving Sir Tipene O' Regan a tiki bobble head so that he didnt have the worry of shaking his head off saying yes to all the deals the government offered him.

And for the record we supported the notion of Anti Earth Hour. But as we stated in a post linking to their blog site - we would be treating Earth Hour with the contempt it deserves - which for us meant ignoring it.

So Dim. We revel in our small brainedness but we remain staunchly independent in thought and in deed. And for the record Dim. We are cuzzies.

BUILDING A HOUSE ON SAND

At the heart of the Ngai Tahu woes is a disagreement over the building of the " House of Tahu. " a $52 million dollar concrete monument to bloated egos.

Now when we heard that this was the issue we thought well if the financials stack up then why not?
We thought that Ngai Tahu must be confident that they were going to make lots of money from their commercial enterprises.

Nope wrong. You see the House is being built on the basis that the tribe is going to get more money from the Government as the original settlement included a relativity clause. Which means that if another tribe gets more than Ngai Tahu did then Ngai Tahu gets a top up. Ten points to the negotiators for organising that one. They were cunninger than cunning things and thats bloody cunning, even for Maoris.

So, the House of Tahu is being built with money from the government, not money that they have earned, but money they have been given.

But here is the kicker. It will house all of the people Ngai Tahu employ. Well, I said when told this stunningly interesting snippet, thats a lot of people I didn't think that the tribe employed that many .

Now it really does get worse.

Ngai Tahu has estimated that because of the extra money they will get they will increase the staffing levels by 33%.

Yip - that's the financial logic model that they have employed.

So it goes something like this - When you get more money you build a big house because when you have more money you have to employ more people.

We thought it was get more money, invest it in things that make more money, and disburse the benefits to the people in the way of business and education and cultural grants.

But no - it is to build a house on sand.

NGAI TAHU IS ANGRY

We understand that Te runanga O Ngai Tahu chair Mark Solomon's Deputy Donald Couch has been removed by his runanga at Rapaki - Lyttleton . More Solomon supporters are expected to face the wrath of their constituents in the coming days and weeks.

And we hear that Maori Television is also covering the story in depth either tonight or tomorrow night.

MORE DISSATISFACTION FROM NGAI TAHU IWI

We have had a steady stream of emails and phone calls re the conflicts within Ngai Tahu.

This is a email from one eloquent Ngai Tahu Beneficiary

How many more times is there going to be conflict at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu where all the blame for everything is placed on 'the few' when the one common denominator is the Kaiwhakahaere?

There was conflict with the previous CEO, conflict with Dr Te Maire Tau, dissatisfaction with his performance by a number of the elected representatives over several years. The one constant: Mark Solomon.

He speaks often about being a servant of the people but he is enjoying a lifestyle beyond the imagination of most of the iwi.

He is one of 18 charged with the prudent management of our Post Settlement Assets, yet he has had Wally Stone peremptorily dismissed after Wally stepped up to the plate to revitalise Ngāi Tahu Holding Corp post Dr Pratt's departure. Mr Solomon played a role in that debacle too.

Much has been achieved under Mr Stone's humble yet steadying influence, not only in the financial affairs but also in the way NTHC interact with the owners, the iwi.

Perhaps Mr Stone's biggest sin is how well regarded he is by the people. Possibly Mr Solomon perceives him as a threat. If so, perhaps Kaikoura should consider which of their 'sons' is better equipped to represent them at the table of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

I know who would get my vote.

Te Ao Hikuraki

NGAI TAHU IN WELLINGTON ON 3RD MARCH TO SHOW OFF

Ngai Tahu is showcasing its leadership to the new government at a special function at parliament on the 3rd of March. We have two questions.

• What leadership?
• Has Sir Tipene been invited?

NGAI TAHU WELL REPRESENTED AT JOB SUMMIT

We have just perused the list of invitees. Its interesting. The really interesting thing is that both Mark Solomon and Wally Stone are attending. We know who will have all the intelligent ideas - and its not Mark.

WALLY STONE WILL END UP THE WINNER

Word around the traps is that Wally is being head hunted as we speak for various boards and positions. Sad but the reality is that Ngai Tahu's loss will be the rest of New Zealands gain.
We would expect that National makes good use of him.

TIME FOR SOLOMON TO GO

It is time for the titular head of Ngai Tahu to show the wisdom of his namesake and resign. Mark Solomon has fallen well short fo the conduct that we as a tribe expect from our leader. He has shown he is small minded, argueably vindictive and lacking in the financial nous needed to keep the assets of our people safe. His integrity also faces scrutiny. The Christchurch Press today reveals the paper that was written detailing the reasons and the process for Stones removal.

What the Press does not reveal is that Stone at the meeting asked if a paper had been written that outlined his dismissal. Solomon denied its existence. Stone asked again, and again Solomon denied any paper existed. Then to the shock and dismay of the runanga members Stone produced the paper that damned him. The meeting ended in disarray and while Solomon set about trying to convince Stone to resign - he wouldn't, so Solomon was forced to oust him that afternoon and dress it up as a " change of direction".

Some runanga are fearful that the way the ousting was carried out will also open up the tribe to a lengthy court battle. We think their fears are well grounded.

Last night the calls kept coming. Stone is hugely regarded in Wellington business and government circles. Such is his mana that his tenure on some boards is seen as pivotal to their success.

Solomon has presided over the most controversial time in Ngai Tahu's history since it received its settlement in the late 1990s. He was anointed by Sir Tipene O'Regan. It was felt that his good looks and his whakapapa and quiet manner would make him the ideal face for the iwi. His ego has grown over the years but the intellect remains static. He does not display the skills of chairmanship that are needed to give fire and strength and trust to the team around him.
When his own runanga is angry and dismayed at his decision then it is time for him to be removed. We hope that this latest debacle unites the iwi to putting pressure on Solomon to oust him and replace him with a real leader who will build a strong committed and united team that will take Ngai Tahu through the tough economic times ahead and on into a better future.