roarprawn.blogspot.com is a blog run by “Busted Blond”. BB is Ngai Tahu from Southland- Bluff- now resident in Wellington. She has a journalistic background. BB is fired up about the Wally Stone sacking. She mentioned this site yesterday saying although she disagrees with much about what I have to say also says, “ I am an advocate of good debate and good debate requires the airing of both sides of any argument.”
Agreed.
BB goes on to say, “Richard does however point to a high level of dysfunctionality at the top level. He is right and the only way that is going to be put right is for the leader to step aside.”
The dysfuntionality has been not been caused by Mark Solomon. I will not support Mark stepping aside. It has been caused by a cabal at the Tront table – the “tight9” now reduced to a “tight7” (the “tight” team has been reduced further, I gather) supported by people such as O’Regan, Rik Tau (snr), Stone – all called for Solomon’s resignation and Potiki- the main players.
BB wants to debate FACTS. In an earlier post she says about Mark “He was anointed by Sir Tipene O'Regan. He (sic) was felt that his good looks and his whakapapa and quiet manner would make him the ideal face for the iwi.”
Fact: Mark was voted Kaiwhakahaere in Sept 1998 at a Tront meeting at Puketeraki – my last meeting as a Tront rep. Charlie Crofts, the incumbent Kaiwhakahaere, had been removed as Representative by his marae (the reason for his dismissal is very interesting and has been covered up. BB is interested in scandals/corruption – perhaps she would like to investigate? Charlie managed to get himself voted back on – he remains one of the tight7- but I digress).
Rather than O’Regan anointing Mark it was I who nominated Mark at the Tront meeting at Puki and the late Cath Brown seconded the nomination. O’Regan, was away at the time of the “anointment” – feathering his nest at the time, I think, and took no part in Mark’s nomination for the Chair
Mark has been an outstanding leader and just as O’Regan said – according to BB – “He (sic) was felt that his good looks and his whakapapa and quiet manner would make him the ideal face for the iwi.” - In contrast to the bombastic, heroic style of previous leaders, O’Regan being one, Crofts being another. This style of leadership has not endeared Ngai Tahu to quite a number influential sectors inside and outside Maoridom.
Mark, by contrast, has a quiet, considered, consensus, style of leadership that is entirely appropriate and needed.
Was just about to post the above when I checked the “roarprawn” website and found this post. Oh Dear. I thought BB had a journalistic back ground, -wanted to debate facts —–?.
Below this diatribe is what Mark sent out to all marae.- just in case bits may have been left out. His message is very reasonable. He is saying that Tront reps should not leak information to the media
Interestingly, the major gripe I have heard about the Stone issue is the anger at the unauthorised leaks to the media by rep/reps at the Tront table. Ngai Tahu Whanui , are tired of this because they know past experience that what is leaked is not the truth or reality.
Note: I have put ( ) around the comments because the colour may not show.
Thursday, 26 February 2009
HE DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH
Mark Solomon the annointed leader of Ngai Tahu has sent out this very threatening missive to the people he serves.
It misses the point. What we are concerned about is his integrity. The fundemental issues is: Did he lie about the existence of the paper designed to orchestrate the dismissal of Wally Stone? click here for the background
If he did then the Whanui can no longer trust him and he must go. In many ways his fate rests with his noble runanga, Kaikoura. We think that like the Whales they protect, the people of Kaikoura are strong. They will not buckle in the face of threats and they will seek the truth.
Here is what Mark has sent to us. We think it is not becoming of a leader as it is threatening, contradictory and not coherent but we will not bow in the face of threats. We say to you Mark - Your people want to know the truth. Face the people , tell them the truth. You are their servant. Our comments are in red.
I am writing to all Representatives, Alternates and Papatipu Rūnanga on a matter of some importance. As you are all no doubt aware, following the decision of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu at the weekend to remove Wally Stone as Chair and director of NTHC a small number of Rūnanga chairs have chosen to take the internal business of Te Rūnanga to the media.
(Sorry Mark you are wrong - some of those who have always supported you now harbour doubt)
In my view, these are matters for the marae not the media. However, while I strongly disagree with their whakaaro and the forum they have chosen, they do have a right to voice their own views on this matter.
(Yes we do Mark and when we feel that our voices cannot be heard at the table what other avenues do we have?)
That said, the leaking to the media of the confidential internal memorandum written by Tony Gray is in another category. The public release of contents of the memorandum have the potential to irreparably damage the reputation of not only Wally Stone and the NTHC Board members, but also senior staff of NTHC. I am aware that the release of this internal memorandum has caused deep personal distress to some of the individuals concerned and to their families.
(All we want to know is, who ordered the creation of the paper that was to outline the dismissal process for Wally Stone. Remember you are ultimately responsible for the action of Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu)
On behalf of Te Rūnanga I wish to make it clear that the release of this memorandum, firstly to Te Rūnanga Representatives and then to the media cannot be condoned at any level. These are the actions of a few thoughtless and irresponsible individuals who are seeking to cause harm to the reputation of both Te Rūnanga and NTHC for personal and political reasons.
(Many people are grieving, their actions are considered. They simply cannot let this rest without some measure of justice.)
Those individuals should not remain anonymous. They should have the courage to come forward and to apologise for the distress and any reputational damage they have caused. It goes without saying that these actions are totally inconsistent with the fundamental duty of each Representative to act in the best interests of Ngāi Tahu Whānui. Therefore, if any existing Te Rūnanga Representatives have been involved in any way with the leaking of this memorandum to the media they should resign immediately.
(This is your view as the servant of your people. The people who have given light to this issue do so because they believe that the only way for it to be settled is to take it from the Table and let the people they represent know what has happened.)
I repeat the offer which was made in a previous e-mail - if any rūnanga wishes to discuss this or any other matter kanohi ki te kanohi then I am more than happy to do so. As we know, information in the media can be presented in a manner that stretches or distorts the truth. One example of this is that the vote taken was 11 in support of the removal of Wally and 7 against. In fact the vote was 11 for, 2 abstentions, 2 against and 3 absent. Te Rūnanga is confident that it has taken the right decision for the right reasons and that the Te Rūnanga Group is well placed to meet the challenges which lay ahead of us all.
(If that was the case then the paper outlining the dismissal of Wally Stone should never have been written.)
In the meantime, for those individuals who do feel obliged to continue to engage with the media either in person or behind the scenes, I urge you to carefully consider the consequences for Ngāi Tahu Whānui, your Papatipu Rūnanga and the reputation of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
(Do not threaten us. We will not cower in the shadows. We will continue to see this issue debated in the light of day. That way we know we are safe.)
Tēnā koutou katoa,
He waka kōtuia kāhore e tukutukua ngā mimira
A canoe that is interlaced will not become separated at the bow
I am writing to all Representatives, Alternates and Papatipu Rūnanga on a matter of some importance. As you are all no doubt aware, following the decision of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu at the weekend to remove Wally Stone as Chair and director of NTHC a small number of Rūnanga chairs have chosen to take the internal business of Te Rūnanga to the media.
In my view, these are matters for the marae not the media. However, while I strongly disagree with their whakaaro and the forum they have chosen, they do have a right to voice their own views on this matter.
That said, the leaking to the media of the confidential internal memorandum written by Tony Gray is in another category. The public release of contents of the memorandum have the potential to irreparably damage the reputation of not only Wally Stone and the NTHC Board members, but also senior staff of NTHC. I am aware that the release of this internal memorandum has caused deep personal distress to some of the individuals concerned and to their families.
On behalf of Te Rūnanga I wish to make it clear that the release of this memorandum, firstly to Te Rūnanga Representatives and then to the media cannot be condoned at any level. These are the actions of a few thoughtless and irresponsible individuals who are seeking to cause harm to the reputation of both Te Rūnanga and NTHC for personal and political reasons.
Those individuals should not remain anonymous. They should have the courage to come forward and to apologise for the distress and any reputational damage they have caused. It goes without saying that these actions are totally inconsistent with the fundamental duty of each Representative to act in the best interests of Ngāi Tahu Whānui. Therefore, if any existing Te Rūnanga Representatives have been involved in any way with the leaking of this memorandum to the media they should resign immediately.
I repeat the offer which was made in a previous e-mail – if any rūnanga wishes to discuss this or any other matter kanohi ki te kanohi then I am more than happy to do so. As we know, information in the media can be presented in a manner that stretches or distorts the truth. One example of this is that the vote taken was 11 in support of the removal of Wally and 7 against. In fact the vote was 11 for, 2 abstentions, 2 against and 3 absent. Te Rūnanga is confident that it has taken the right decision for the right reasons and that the Te Rūnanga Group is well placed to meet the challenges which lay ahead of us all.
In the meantime, for those individuals who do feel obliged to continue to engage with the media either in person or behind the scenes, I urge you to carefully consider the consequences for Ngāi Tahu Whānui, your Papatipu Rūnanga and the reputation of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
Nāhaku noa
nā
Mark Solomon
Kaiwhakahaere