History often has a habit of repeating itself.
As one unnamed sage, said – “ We learn from history that we do not learn anything from history.”
It seems to me that this is the case in current campaign to oust Mark Solomon. It’s a repeat of what happened in 2006/7, see here, where there was an attempt to oust Mark because he was alleged to have leaked information to the media about an exit package he was offered.
Mark did not leak anything to the media.
Maria Pera (Tront representative of Awarua) and, in my view, in collusion with Wally Stone, did the leaking to the media.
Stone and Pera were just a part of a wider, but small group, seeking to takeover the tribal assets. This group failed.
Today, it appears, nothing has changed. The same players are active; some Tront reps, and former so called tribal leaders.
I posted here that “Votabus” is going to be active this weekend.( Correction:there is no meeting at Otakou this weekend).
The consequence is, if any Tront rep is ousted, including Mark Solomon, is that I will be seeking names for a petition that will see the Minister of Maori Affairs to taking control of the tribe and its assets.This measure/remedy had considerable support in the last Tront crisis but was not implemented.
But where is the tribal Mana in this outcome? – to beholden to the Crown- Again?
Ngai Tahu shareholders need to speak up.
Tena koe Richard
Normally I struggle to find anything on your website that I can agree with. I do however commend your thorough treatment of the electoral question.
If recent headlines are correct, the tribe is again moving dangerously close towards banana republic status. In the past, you have criticised Tront for its non-performance in regard to efficiently and fairly conducting elections.
Since settlement the conduct of elections within the tribe has been beset by varying degrees of problems ranging from uncertain legal and constitutional terrain through to the flouting of the legal requirement to avail beneficiaries’ equal opportunities to vote.
There is merit in your past ascertain that the majority of the tribe have been effectively disenfranchised for over 10 years. Some attribute this problem to the fledgling nature of Ngai Tahu democracy and contend that it would mature with time. Unfortunately this has not come to pass.
Initially the recent electoral review offered the prospect of more extensive competition between candidates and greater electoral participation by beneficiaries.
However, the threat of legal action from supporters of less inclusive measures resulted in only minor adjustments to the current system.
Arguably such tinkering around the edges has served to lower even further the already abysmal level of the enfranchisement among beneficiaries.
A potential alibi for a majority of Tront Reps is that if the people’s votes did not bring them into office then accountability to beneficiaries is irrelevant. Likewise improvement is also unlikely by replacing the current Reps via shonky appointments from the floor of the incorporated societies.
Meaningful democratic development is about institutionalising political participation, competition and stable governance.
Tront’s continuing failure to provide such development has meant that seeking access to tribal political power has become a contest without credible rules, consistency or fairness.
The solution lies in rising beyond episodic jungle politics and empowering tribal members to exercise choice about who should represent them by casting votes in favour of those candidates who they consider have the best qualities to do so.
Regards
Russell Caldwell
Ngai Tahu Beneficiary
Who wrote this for you Russell??? I think…that…
The tribe only become “effectively disenfranchised” when people who have previously worked in the area of whakapapa decide to “tinker around the edges”
that has hugely contributed to the already “abysmal level of the disenfranchisement among (your words)beneficiaries.” and …I dont know about you Russell… but I’m a stakeholder not a beneficiary…you have been working in the Justice system to long dear.
Tena koe Sandy
Who wrote this for me? Why? Do you get others to write for you?? If you do you should sack them.
I’m not taking sides in this. I have been advocating my seemingly unpopular view since 1992 and that view remains unchanged. I simply contend that Ngai Tahu’s current problems stem from a lack of true democracy.
I agree, you ARE a Tront Stakeholder because you have a lot at stake if democratic elections ever go ahead. I can see why you don’t want them to.
Maybe if you and others were awake to the fact that you are managing assets on behalf of all of us who hold beneficial interest in them, then you wouldn’t find the term beneficiary so offensive.
Na
Russell Caldwell
I agree with Russell- who says ” I simply contend that Ngai Tahu’s current problems stem from a lack of true democracy”. I wrote a paper last year on this blog entitled “Electoral Review”. Shortly I will follow this paper up with another. This time providing some ideas It is not just electoral that is the only issue it is also structural.
I would like to comment on russell caldwell,
As a stakeholder and in the whakapapa unit doing whakapapa leaving in such a state of affairs.
Why did he resign? and leave the whakapapa of tamariki, in scruity, when he knew very well that merehana holmes or susanne whitehouse is not tamariki,s daughter. and there was no prove of his acussations? when collecting information on any whakapapa takes more than two years research, If Tamarakis father jacob haumai, Tamarakis father lived in Codfish Island and his wife lisa as palmers book from donnelly and hawkers states, baptised old man in the 1830 in selwyn baptism and Russell Caldwell states ann holmes born 1836 married George pauley which was not merehana and had several children and nathiel bates, I have evidence to say nathiel bates third wife being williams was infact merehana pani and not in fact 17 yrs old ann married William Maclure Palmer 1856 If Mary Whitehouse was born to tamariki in 1850 Auckland Island, and mere-anna holmes was born in 1836 and then married john Owens, and had Rodger, john, jenny sally and other, How could Mary Tamaraki be in the Auckland Islands in 1850,s when she was having children to john Owens in the 1850? SoMr Caldwell couldnt do the job of the whakapapa unit, when you are commenting on the rest of Ngai tahu? ngaitahu mismanagement.