NGAI TAHU ABOUT TO REAP RETURNS OF TRIBES INVESTMENTS?

It looks like it. We are delighted to read about our tribes future from the NZ Herald.
We are delighted that Mark Solomon keeps presenting all the good financial ideas the tribe has as his own, when in fact the real financial grunt comes from Wally Stone et al new appointments to the Table.

We are delighted that Mark still manages to sound like a complete arrogant prick.

All that aside Maori do have the collective financial grunt to be a force to be reckoned with in the years ahead we have said that for a bloody long time.

Fran has written an illuminating piece on the tribe , and we are not sure if its deliberate or not but you get the impression that Solomon was waving his big swinging todger around while he was being interviewed.

We are also delighted to hear that iwi will be able to invest in the commercial assets of the tribe. However we would have thought that it is more important to tell the people what the tribe is up to before telling the rest of New Zealand and a quick scan of the cuzzies indicates that this is the first they have heard of it. Mind you a few of us were on the muttonbird islands ( and many still are ) doing what Ngai Tahu/Waitaha/ KatiMamoe Maori traditionally do.

But then that says it all really. They are getting on with making their own way in the world while Solomon gets to play around with other peoples money and then forgets to ensure that they at least know what the grand plan is and there is a deep suspicion among many down south that Mark is quick to let people think that he is the brains behind the tribe.

Better communications boys with the people you serve .. please otherwise you just come across as paternalistic twats.

And less of the puff pieces and more accolades for the real financial thinkers behind the strategic direction the tribe is heading.

BACK TO TIKANGA

We have been in Hamilton this weekend - a world away from Wellington and two worlds away from the South Island and Ngai Tahu.

We have had time to take stock and we think we have set out to achieve what we wanted to do - get Ngai Tahu focusing on their leadership and the tribes performance and make people think and act on who they want to represent them - and we have already seen the signals , with the election of Wally Stone and Tahu Potiki, that the people want a change of direction.

We have come under fire for moderating the debate on various posts - its simply because both the supporters of Mark Solomon and his detractors have indulged in some personal mudslinging the likes of which we have never, ever seen before on any issue we have ever run on this blog.

We reckon that we have done a good job of stoking the fires of a very important issue for Ngai Tahu rank and file. We think that we were pretty well known for plain speaking on the Marae so we have taken that approach on this blog. We have done what we have done here on Ngai Tahu issues on Roarprawn, with the help of many from one end of the country to the other. We thank them. For many Ngai Tahu, Roarprawn is not something that ends up in your puku - it a noisy little fish that embeds in your brain and makes you think.

But now it is time for the focus to shift from the virtual marae we have created here to the real one.

It is now the turn of the people, face to face, to sort these issues through.

So until the Hui A Tau which is being held at Oraka Aparima Colac Bay Riverton, on the weekend of the 20-22nd of November is over, we wont mock, prod, slap, dig, cajole, criticise or praise anything or anyone in relation to the elections.

We think that this way everyone can take a breather and think very, very wisely about the best part they can play in the future of the tribe that will serve the best interests of us all.

That sort of talk is best done without heat in quiet rooms.

It's time for all the tribe to turn up to the Hui A Tau and voice their concerns and support for the people they want to lead the tribe.

It is time to take the business back into the House of Tahu for a while. There is going to have to be an orderly transition in leadership - as Ngai Tahu is not just important to its people, it has an important role to play in the South Island economy. Ngai Tahu can also join with other iwi to get the economies of scale required to advance new business ventures to benefit all Maori.

And for those who have contacted us and asked if we are interested in being involved in the elections down home in Awarua, Bluff. Yes and no. We have no interest in standing as a representative. We are fervent devotees of Ahi Kaa. That is - that those who are at home are the best to manage the home affairs. But maybe we will put our hands up to be on the panel to select the local delegate. We will consider that option in due course.

We walked away from active involvement in tribal affairs 10 years ago, when we moved to Wellington, after being heavily engaged in runanga, marae and runanga business and the titi committee. The only tribal business we ever really wanted to be actively involved in was the management of fisheries but that opportunity never came our way.

Many of the skills we learnt at home have stood us in good stead all these years.
We have run our own successful little business without a drop of financial support from anyone, so that has been pretty satisfying.

And its good to look back and see that a lot of what we help initiateback home has survived today. So we look back with some pride. And its those experiences and understanding that has kept us forever interested in tribal politics - albiet at a distance.

So to you , leaders and followers all - it is time to put aside the egos, the family disputes, the jealousies and for humility to reign and for The Table to serve up the feast of social and economic riches for all us to share.

So for now we will stay quiet and concentrate on other things.. Just for a while mind you, just for a while..

CHANGING OF THE GUARD FOR NGAI TAHU?

Could be -- we hear there is a meeting in Christchurch at the Big Green House. ... We will keep you posted.

SOLOMON'S A PUSSY

Who would have believed it ? ( well us for starters....) Mark Solomon is doing all he can to delay the inevitable - reports the NZ Herald today being voted out by his own runanga which means he would not only lose the title of Kaiwhakahaere( chair) but he would also lose his seat at the ruling table.
It is disgraceful that he has not promoted an election and fought it like a man.

Again he has fallen short of what is required of a leader.

We have also considered that the Ngai Tahu voting system is nothing ( sorry mum) but a cluster fuck... It gives too much power to too few for too long.

It has ended up this way because the incumbents will normally be the ones to benefit from confusion..

Hopefully this time round we will have a ruling council we can be proud of.

THE WORDS OF A LEADER

The Herald today covered the ascent of Wally Stone to Te runanga o Ngai Tahu...

His words have a quiet humility about them.

He said senior kaumatua and family had persuaded him to stand. "The thing is I know it's difficult for people. They think, 'If you've been treated badly, why would you go back and do it again?' But your family is your family, and if you're in a position to do something for them you should."

Asked if there was a chance that factionalism could hamstring the board during his three-year term, Mr Stone said that was an outcome no one wanted.

"As long as people park their ego at the door and remind themselves that they are representing the aspirations of the people there shouldn't be a problem."

Yip we agree - egos at the door. Welcome home Wally.

EXCLUSIVE - THE WINDS OF CHANGE ARE BLOWING IN THE SOUTH.

The best news we have had for a week. Wally Stone has been elected as a runanga representative of Ngati Wheke to the Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu ruling council.

Wally , who has the huge respect of the New Zealand business community fell foul of Mark Solomon and left his job as chair of the financial power house of Ngai Tahu empire - Ngai Tahu Holding corp earlier this year.

The last ten years has seen an unstable tribe council riven by bitter personality battles that have spilled into the public arena.

We have been happy to put our hand up and say that Solomon must go.

His reign at the top of the "Table" has not unified the tribe. And his ego has prevented him from making the decision that would have shown integrity - to step aside.

Just recently we came across Solomon in the Wellington Airport - he yelled at us and waved his big Solomon finger in our face. He is obviously no fan of Roarprawn and BustedBlonde and we saw first hand why some people believe he is a bully.

It was not the action of a man of dignity.

But we are not scared of him. Instead we just laughed at him. His finger may be big but his mana is puny.

So the election of Tahu Potiki last week and Wally Stone this week means that we will see a change of direction in our tribes politics. We hope that it will mean that Solomon will finally show some humility and step down.

Our dream team would be Wally Stone at the helm with Tahu Potiki as deputy and to ensure that we dont see anymore swinging dicks, that the role of the chair is more clearly defined on governance and not the semi titular head it appears to have become.

We also want to see some of the people who have built their own businesses and shown strong leadership representing Ngai Tahu on boards and organisations around the country instead of the same old tired faces who have been sychophants of Solomon.

We also want to see Ngai Tahu take the lead and form stronger relationships with other iwi so that we can take advantage of the economies of scale that joint ventures with other tribes can offer.

And we want, apart from issues of commercial sensitivy, utter transparency. No more PR spin glossing up the tribes performance - tell it like it is.

We are well pleased with todays events as every Ngai Tahi beneficiary should be. We firmly believe that together Potiki and Stone have the brains, financial prudence and wise leadership to take the tribe forward. Kia Kaha to you both.

TAHU POTIKI AT THE NGAI TAHU TABLE

We were delighted to hear today that former Ngai Tahu CE Tahu Potiki is to represent Otakau at The Table , the tribes ruling council.

Tahu is an abrasive, arrogant big shit but he does have a good head on his shoulders and the will to see the tribe head in a better direction. He will need to marshall all his best qualities to help turn the ruling council into the governing body the iwi needs to take advantage of its unique position in the South Island economy.

Tahu is set to play an important role in bringing some cohesiveness and good governance to the tribe.
We are hoping for a few more new more representatives to take their places at what will be a pivotal time in the tribes development. This is not a job for one alone. It will require all representatives to work together..

We need leaders who will start the tribe looking forward, not back and bear no grudges, people who will stand the iwi on its collective feet and stop relying on government hand outs to fill the tribal coffers.

We need our leaders to work across Maoridom to give us the economies of scale to take advantage of the opportunities that are on offer.

We want the tribes economic performance based on real asset growth and not on the amount of money it has wheedled out of the government.

We need leaders who give us the real warts and all version of what is happening with our collective business to give us a level of comfort and trust.

We all know that mistakes will be made but we want leaders to tell it like it is.

We, above all, want leaders who make us proud to be Ngai Tahu.

NGAI TAHU 'S BEST WEBSITE

Its not the home website for the Tribe here

It's the Ngai Tahu property website here , its clean, fresh, is easy to navigate, and is a tribute to the people who are directly responsible for growing the tribes property portfolio.

and the Seafood Site is good as well.

We really think that the main tribal website needs a new look.

AWARUA HUI - REPORT

This post is from one of the Ngai Tahu Wahine Toa who attended the Bluff Hui organised by the locals to get Mark Solomon to address some of their concerns.He first said he would visit any marae that asked for him to attend , then he backed off , then he agreed but only at a time when many of the whanau were at the muttonbird islands.

I didn’t hear a lot of anger apart from Anthony Fowler and a couple of terse responses directed by members of the audience against one of the fishers but I did hear a lot of distortions of truth, word games and outright fabrications from the member from Kaikoura, some very clear facts backed by documentation from Wally Stone, some sadness and disappointment from whānau members who had hoped, I think, to hear an admission from the Kaiwhakahaere that HE could have done better in his management of the NTHC / TRONT relationship.

Note from Editor BB : "We think that this still strikes to the heart of the matter. The amount of people who have worked for Te runanga O Ngai Tahu and been pushed out or sacked would have a listed company's shareholders baying for blood. As we have repeatedly said Solomon has been at the helm of an organisation that has been in turmoil for over a decade."

Instead they heard that Wally Stone was sacked because he did not supply ONE report even though the Kaiwhakahaere,Solomon, was present at the NTHC meeting and approved it, only to vote against it at the TRONT meeting. According to one of the involved fishers, it was also presented to TRONT in person by Colin Topi, Tahu Potiki and NTHC. The Kaiwhakahaere was apparently absent that day and TRONT was being chaired by the Deputy. Perhaps the Kaiwhakahaere didn’t read his papers or the minutes?

The meeting at Awarua ( Bluff) was orderly, well run and tikanga was observed at all times. The difference between the previous meetings and the Awarua meeting would appear to be that the mana remained with the ahi ka at all times. All who wished to speak were allowed to have a say but they were required to stick to the question of the moment rather than divert to other matters.

There was some "you said, I said" which was probably only to be expected but there was also some very pointed questions to the Kaiwhakahaere that he seemed unwilling or unable to answer in a direct fashion.

The meeting was well attended with the representatives from Oraka and Puketeraki present to support the Kaiwhakahaere while the Kaikoura whanau came to support the whanau from Awarua. However of the approximately 140 people present, about 120 were Awarua whanau, a very good result and well on a par with Rehua and Kaikoura.

NGAI TAHU NEED TO EMBRACE THE DIGITAL AGE

Some of the comments on this Blog have been pretty interesting of late. And there have been many many comments and visitors to all the pages about Ngai Tahu. In fact in the last month the topic has generated as much traffic as Scampi did.

Also I was never a nurse - not sure who started that rumour but my son would probably give me a pass mark for sticking plaster application and I am pretty good at anatomy after gutting 40,000 muttonbirds but nurse I aint nor ever have been. As for spin doctoring - I don't do spin. Ask any of my clients - which include a two very large offshore companies who employ about 40,000 people between them, and five other companies and two government departments. So if I am crap at spin - please don't tell them.

Okay back to what we have been thinking. Its this - while Ngai Tahu thinks its a big deal that 200 -300 turn up to hear Mark Solomon wax lyrical on the Marae at Rehua, We had, on one day, 1200 people visit this site. We can see what stories they were reading and we can tell you with absolute confidence that 987 of them read Ngai Tahu stories. In any given day between - 200 - and 987 people are coming into Roarprawn to specifically catch up on the Ngai Tahu stuff.

So went and had a cruise around the Ngai Tahu site - there is something called community net but you need your Whai Rawa pin number to access it. We like the Whai Rawa scheme but it appears that the only way you can access the community net is if you subscribe to whai rawa.
And we have seen some of the papers for TRONT - they obviously get to the Marae ( well we bloody hope they do) So why not purge them of all the commercial stuff and put them on the web site?

We also think the demand for an on line forum is very strong. And it is something that Ngai Tahu should investigate - As they should also investigate Twitter, And Facebook for getting the message across.

Now I can already here the screams but " we Ngai Tahu do things face to face on the Marae,"

Well thats open to debate - Marae are a relatively modern affectation for us - Kaika (semi permanent villages )were our thing. We were too nomadic to have any real strong roots especially in the South.

And we have always been responsive and taken advantage of the modern world. we dont put muttonbirds in kelp much any more and we dont use tins like we did when i was a kid - now we use plastic buckets and some are experimenting with vacuum packs. So we need to change with the times.

I issue a challenge to Ngai Tahu - be brave harness the internet and all it has to offer - reach out to your people and dont hide in the Wharenui.

You will get more than 200 people tuning in to listen and talk to you. You may even get a thousand.

NGAI TAHU LOSES A SOLID CORPORATE LEADER

Today we were saddened but not surprised at the departure of Andrew Harrison the Chief Operating officer for Ngai Tahu Group Holdings.

Andrew was very well regarded throughout the New Zealand business community and one business leader suggested today that if Ngai Tahu was a publicly listed company, the news "would have wiped ten percent of the share price "

Ngai Tahu have lost two good and true stewards of their assets with the departure of Wally Stone and Andrew. Two men, who were the concrete cornerstones of the Ngai Tahu commercial arm known as Ngai Tahu Holdings.

Again we reiterate that Mark Solomon needs to step aside.

We hope he gets a serious bollocking in Bluff this weekend.

Attached is the press release sent out by Ngai Tahu.

Media Statement Ngai Tahu

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UPDATE FROM REHUA MEETING FROM SOLOMON

Here is the latest report from Solomon. We would like to hear the views of others who attended.



Message to Ngai Tahu Whanui 20090321

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OF BIRDS, FAMILIES AND BUSINESS

We made a decision a couple of days ago to head to the muttonbird island with Ma and Pa - Dad is 72 and mum is coming up 69.

We love the island - it has a white sand beach , more often than not occupied by Hooker's Sealions and has some really good Blue Cod fishing patches. We can set a net for a feed of greenbone and dive for a feed of paua.
And then of course there is the muttonbird harvest itself - An ancient hunt that is locked into our genes despite the fact that the last full blood Ngai Tahu was 6 generations back. Go figure.

Anyway after all the crap between the factions who are fighting for supremacy at the Ngai Tahu governing body Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu we think that for the last ten years TRONT, as it is known, has done bugger all for us. Then again we never expected it to. We receive regular monthly newsletters about what each runanga is doing and we find that a good way to find out just what the cousins are doing at home. They are the Ahi Kaa - the ones who keep the home fires burning.

And we get the less frequent Te Karaka - which is a glossy mag that looks at some of the achievements of the tribe. There are some good ones.

And then there is Whai Rawa the Ngai Tahu Superannuation Fund. It will be interesting to see how this is managed in these financially troubled times.
Oh and dad gets a few hundred dollars at Xmas for being an old Ngai Tahu bugger - and being on a pension he looks forward to a wee bit of spare cash.
So not a lot in it for us really. But back to the muttonbird islands.

Our business is strong enough that we can afford to take ten days off and fly there and back in a chopper.

We have worked long and hard to get to that position. We have often wondered if Ngai Tahu would come calling for our business expertise but they never have - we reckon its because we don't do sychophancy very well.

Our focus of the next 6 weeks will be getting fit for the Muttonbird season, that is going to be a very big ask because , not to put too finer point on it,we are way too big.

It may well be the last year for us - Mum and Dad will probably put our little family hut and work house up for sale. So despite all the things the tribe is doing the only real payback we have had from being Ngai Tahu is that it has allowed us to go the island, harvest muttonbirds, practice all the things that have been handed down over generations, and build up a very small asset.
And its for the likes of the two boys in the top picture - one is son of BB and a helicopter pilot/instructor and the other is cousin Storm a young fisherman - one of the stars of the Million dollar Catch.

Both of them have got to where they are without the help of the tribe.

Somehow that seems so much more impressive than building $52million dollar office blocks with money that was given by the government for the wrongs perpetrated on a previous generation.
This generation didn't earn it and now it cant even play with it nicely.

Maybe its time for those at the table to go out and spend some time making money in the real world where the only dollar you get to spend is the one you earn.

BLOG MODERATED

We we have managed to blog for 6 months without having to moderate comments but that time as come. And sadly it is because of Ngai Tahu. Apparently if you make a mistake in your youth there is no way you can redeem yourself. The target is Tahu Potiki - the vitriol and bile that is being spewed in the comments section suggests to me that maybe Tahu does have what it takes to be a leader.
He has followed a rough road, educated himself and risen above his past. His intellect has never been questioned. Yet those who support Solomon are obviously very, very scared of him. For that alone he would get my support. Now don't get me wrong, I think Tahu is an arrogant shit and I know his past well but he may well be the one to sort out the mess that Ngai Tahu is in. Time will tell.

And for those who want to get real personal - I have software that can pinpoint anyone who visits this site. I have never ever used it and I hope I never have to.

In the mean time , until some people create their own blog - comments will be moderated.

However feel free to email me bustedblonde@gmail.com

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT DUE

A wee birdy tells us that Mark Solomon raised the possibility that the banks are getting a bit touchy at the moment over the public controversy surrounding the tribes leadership ( or lack of it)at the Hui at Rehua Marae yesterday and at Kaikoura.

Ngai Tahu reputedly has a $200 million dollar credit facility ( note: credit)

Apparently Solomon suggested that all the raruraru ( arguing ) in the media was making the banks nervous.

Well for starters many companies are on notice from the banks - Credit is tight - full stop.
Secondly if they were worried it would not be because of what's in the papers or on the radio or TV or heaven forbid the Blogs. No, if they are in fact worried - it will be because they dont think that the current leadership is stable or horror of horrors maybe there some issues with financial performance or governance. We can only speculate.

But for Solomon to raise it as a big bogey is scaremongering at its worst and at best a limp attempt to make those who are opposing him feel guilty.

If the situation has got so bad that the financiers are reducing support for the tribe then, again we say that points to weak leadership.

Again we say that Solomon , for the sake of the tribe needs to step down.

And it is time for the Tau boys, Tahu Potiki and some of the other young Ngai Tahu businessmen and women to have a korero and develop a leadership plan to take Ngai Tahu into the future. It is time for them to put aside their egos ( and they all have them in spades) but put their wisdom and expertise forward.

The fate of the tribe is in their hands.

NGAI TAHU - RECAP

Here is a very good analysis of some of the core issues facing Ngai Tahu.

We also want to know what is the time cycle for runanga elections. Can someone tell us what it is ?
what we want to know is how often runanga reps at the Table are up for re-election.

The Events That Led to a Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

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NGAI TAHU POLITICS

We are used to the hurly burly of tribal politics

We have stood on the Marae and swayed a room of 500 with our thinking and yet on the ‘moro have hung our head and been humbled taking a verbal battering because we were wrong.

That makes you strong and it makes you wise.



We have written stories about the history of our tribe about how Tuhawaiki saw the potential of trade and set sail for Australia in a boat he owned and how he bought and sold goods alongside the pakeha. We have written stories about how our people argue and fight, and about the things we do, like muttonbirding and fishing and eating pigeons and weka and eels and kana kana and weaving and kapa haka because that’s what we have always done.

Ngai Tahu have elected us to the likes of the Muttonbird committee to sit in painful judgement of our whanau and draw on wisdom way beyond our years and we have sat on the runanga committee where we designed local rules for setting customary fishing permits and saw our people gain more respect in the community because they shared their bounty.



For 35 years of the 49 we have spent on this earth we have harvested muttonbirds on a small island that draws us closer to our ancestors and our family than any other place.



We have also written stories about our leaders who have made money from the “gravy train" and have seen our people weep at the deception and lies.

We have been on Marae when people have claimed bodies in the middle of the night and negotiated a way through the morass of whanau politics. We have slept beside Ngai Tahu crims in drafty wharenui and stayed at 4 star hotels with our bloated leaders.



We know Ngai Tahu and we think the Whanui have reached a turning point.

We have been vilified for stating a position – that Mark Solomon should not be our leader. We will not resile from that.

He displays none of the qualities of a leader we respect or admire. We held that view long before the Wally Stone issue. Just because he is a big man in body does not mean he is a big man in mana. Whakapapa counts for much but not all.

What we need is a humble leader who has a strong majority of support from our people, a leader who inspires, who brings together factions from different perspectives and makes them work together as a collective for all Ngai Tahu.

As yet, we see no logical successor but the question needs to be put to the people , they need to be looking at who can lead them.

That search needs to begin today if we are to have a future tomorrow.

NGAI TAHU RIVEN BY PERSONAL ATTACKS.

Ngai Tahu would never be able to field a good rugby team. They are too busy playing the man and not the ball.

The Herald reports this morning about a letter circulating that attacks all the iwi members the writer believed are trying to get rid of Mark Solomon. It is nasty - we are aware of its contents.

our comments are in red

Internal revolt within Ngai Tahu is continuing, with seven tribal leaders banding together to push for change from within their governing body, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu (Tront).

Yes that is correct.

Some of them say that because they've spoken out, a "nasty" campaign has started, which includes an anonymous letter being sent to media naming 10 iwi members and alleging, among other things, that some associate with rapists and murderers.

The typewritten note was sent to the Otago Daily Times this week. The author identifies the 10 as anti-Tront iwi members.

If they are ten then Solomon is in real trouble. He has lost the numbers.

Otakou Runanga chairman Tahu Potiki said the letter amounted to "threatening, bully-boy tactics".

He also alleged that his emails to other iwi leaders had been hacked.

For three weeks, the tribe has been in turmoil, a situation started by revelations it would be spending $52 million over four years on a cultural centre. Last month, Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation chairman Wally Stone, who advised against that spending in the current market, was dismissed.

Mr Potiki said asking for "transparency" had seen all sorts of "hell" break loose.

Yip, both sides are claiming to want more transparency and accountability. Its a bit fo a worry for people like us who expected that by now the Tribe would have developed into a mature corporate citizen.

"This is because we want to have a debate about how much a building costs, how much senior management get paid and why they got rid of Wally Stone. In [a Ngai Tahu] election year, these are reasonable questions to ask, yet these nutbars think they can shut down all discussion because they want to hold on to power.

"And they think they're going to intimidate us with this sort of crap."

There is no way you can intimidate Tahu, big boy, big brain and probably a biggish ego. Unlike Solomon though, we think he displays more humility.

Chairmen from seven of 18 papatipu runanga - the constituents that make up Tront - yesterday publicly called for radical change in the way Te Runanga interacts with their members. They represent Hokonui, Otakou, Arowhenua, Awarua, Wairewa, Kaikoura and Ngati Waewae.

Yes this is the core of the dissent but other runanga are also split on support for Solomon.

The Herald requested an interview with Tront chairman Mark Solomon. But a spokeswoman said he was unavailable. In a written statement, he said he would not be involved in any further media debate.

We actually agree with this, not unitl he has met with his people first.

Awarua runanga chairwoman Hana Morgan said too many important decisions were being made in committee, without any accountability to members, eroding papatipu rights.

"We've tried going through our representative," she said. "They [Tront] ignore us. We've said, 'Come to the marae, listen to what we're saying'. They don't do that. It's like we're becoming invisible."

We don't do invisible in Awarua ( Bluff). We don't like being railroaded. The women of Awarua are known for their fearlessness and it is that strength that will carry them through. They have over the years garnered considerable support within their community.

Kia Kaha girls, Kia Kaha.

And this is from the ODT

Conspiracy against open speech is causing difficulties inside one of the country's wealthiest iwi, a prominent Ngai Tahu member says.

Otakou Runanga chairman and former Ngai Tahu chief executive Tahu Potiki said he is no longer prepared to be intimidated by "dirty tactics", following allegations of private emails being hacked, and an anonymous letter delivered to the Otago Daily Times.

Iwi members who have spoken out against recent decisions, including the sacking of Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation chairman Wally Stone and the proposed $52 million cultural centre, have been attacked for airing their opinions, Mr Potiki said.

"There seems to be a conspiracy against open speech."

In other developments, Mr Potiki said he was aware of private emails circulating that appear to have been hacked and released to other recipients without their consent.

"This is not how people envisaged Ngai Tahu democracy should unfold."

That has to be the understatement of this whole saga.

This week, an anonymous typewritten letter was delivered to the Otago Daily Times concerning iwi members - viewed as being against Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu kaiwhakahaere (chairman) Mark Solomon.

The letter alleges "there has been and continues to be a carefully managed and orchestrated effort to pull down the walls of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu (Tront)", and names 10 iwi members, including Mr Potiki.

It appeared anyone who questioned the direction of Tront became the subject of a smear campaign, he said.

"It has become like a socialist government."

Tension between the commercial and political bodies of Ngai Tahu, which has an asset base of more than $600 million, spilled over last month following the surprise dumping of Mr Stone.

In a statement Mr Solomon refused to comment on the "current tribal issues Ngai Tahu is experiencing".

"I have taken this stance because the path forward for Ngai Tahu is to return to our values as a tribe and I am confident that we will resolve these matters through open and honest discussions on the marae.

"Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu is obligated to act in the best interests of Ngai Tahu Whanui, and it is for this reason that I have called a meeting of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu for us to address these matters as a responsible board."

There is no trust in the current administration, and if one of Marks supporters can name 10 who are not happy with his leadership, then his days are numbered.

Last month, Kaikoura runanga kaumatua requested Mr Solomon resign as their representative, calling for another person to stand in the June elections.

Mr Solomon has refused to comment on the future of his position, saying "the place to debate tribal politics is the marae".

A special closed door meeting between Tront representatives was held in Christchurch today, with an open hui scheduled for March 20.

A request by the ODT to attend the open hui was turned down by Ngai Tahu.

We wonder if Rehua is going to be big enough to handle the number of people who will be attending.

TENSIONS OVER NGAI TAHU OFFICIALS CONTINUE

We posted this yesterday . It was sent out by Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu ( TRONT) to all Runanga by CE Angus Goodall . It was about that fact that the Rapaki runanga( Ngati Wheke) no longer considered deputy chairman( kaiwhakhaere) of Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu as their representative.

There has been a number of questions directed to the Office recently with
respect to the position of Donald Couch, the Deputy Kaiwhakahaere. There
has also been speculation in the media that Donald had been removed as the
Representative for Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke. Being mindful of the legal
obligations and the potential legal liabilities associated with this matter, we
are currently in the process of taking formal advice. Until that
advice is received and a decision upon it can be made, Te Rūnanga's secretariat
is of the view that Donald Couch remains the Representative for Te Hapū o Ngāti
Wheke and that he also continues to hold the role of Deputy Kaiwhakahaere. This
is consistent with the position that Te Rūnanga has taken in the past in similar
situations. Noho ora mai.

Today we received three copies of this letter that Rapaki sent to Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu CE Angus Goodall.

Tutehounuku Korako

Anake, tena ra koe,

Ko tenei te reo poroaki ki a ratou kua whetu rakitia, ratou nga kahuiwhetu i te raki, eokie koutou e. Ratou te hunga wairua kia ratou, tatou nga urupa kanohi o ratou ma ki a tatou, nei nga mihi.

Firstly, we note your response to all of Ngai Tahu Whanui regarding the removal of Donald Couch as the Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu (TRONT) Representative from Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke (Rapaki) Runanga and we are concerned that such a memo was sent when there had been no direct communication from you, or the Office, with the Chair of Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke (Rapaki) Runanga. We believe this is remarkably disrespectful and politically motivated.

Secondly, Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke (Rapaki) Runanga is in no doubt who now represents our Runanga at TRONT. Donald Couch’s term as Representative expired some time ago and, although he remained in that position, it was at the discretion Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke (Rapaki) Runanga. On March 1 at the General Runanga Meeting at Te Wheke Marae, Rapaki, Donald Couch resigned from his position as Chair and was removed as our TRONT Representative. As per the Charter of TRONT we have notified TRONT that our Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke (Rapaki) Runanga Representative, Donald Couch, has ceased to hold office.

We are not aware of any provision that would allow the Office of TRONT to not recognise the receipt of that notice and the acceptance of Donald Couch’s removal. It is our view that it is incumbent upon TRONT to recognise the tino rangatiratanga of Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke (Rapaki) Runanga and any legal advice or challenge regarding his removal is a Papatipu Runanga matter and will be dealt with accordingly at that level.

As Donald Couch is no longer our Representative then, as per the Charter, the Alternate Representative, Kopa Lee, now becomes the Representative and he will be attending all future TRONT meetings as the Representative for Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke (Rapaki) Runanga.

We also note that the TRONT Representatives for Moeraki, Waihao, Taumutu and Tuahiwi have all been appointed to TRONT in a similar fashion with full acceptance by TRONT.

It is the intention of Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke (Rapaki) Runanga to hold a properly constituted election as soon as possible.

Heoi ano

Tutehounuku Korako

Chairman

Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke (Rapaki) Runanga