Mark Solomon has called a meeting at Rehua Marae at 2 pm Fri 20 March – this is now general knowledge among shareholders.
I have been given an as assurance that the hui will be recorded on film /video so that the hui will be available to shareholders.
This is a major step forward from the Hui a Tau at Waihopai in Nov 2005 when Tipene O'Regan accussed the Fishing Company of fraud; and he was fimed. I was then a Director of NTHC. There was nothing to this allegation ( as was proved independently) but mud sticks. Tried to get a copy of the film – but to no avail. Finally a copy was given to my lawyer but could not be published.
This in my view, was when all this fuss started
What the malcontents are seeking, in my view is power, power over the tribal assets
I’m not a fan of recording the hui. Just doesn’t feel right and I can’t see the value unless we are trying to add more money into the lawyers. Good liars have big amounts of self delusion in that they believe their lies, and when they say something different they believe the new lie, so trying to catch them out by recording what they say doesn’t work. We’d get more out recording all of these secret meetings everyone is having.
I think the point Marty mars is making is certainly right in terms of the lies spoken & the self delision is incrediable! However I can see the reasons for the video footage also, maybe the thought of being caught on film will be enough to deter some of the disgusting behaviour displayed at Takahanga.
As a Ngai Tahu stakeholder overseas, I welcome the opportunity to see coverage of the hui.
As it turned out there was no cameras at Rehua. Nothing ever beats being there in person anyway but I can understand where SHG is coming from.
The story so far is that a bunch of Ngai Tahu got together in secret because they say they have concerns. They decide to take these concerns to the people via the pakeha media. I can not agree that they have my interests at heart.
Why did they not just call meetings. Or write to the CEO or other runanga or indeed record videos for youtube or whatever to get the message to the rest of the tribe.
Instead they go to the pakeha media who love to trash Maori and drag the name of Ngai Tahu through the mud. If they had tried all those avenues then MAYBE… but maybe the real question is whether they are just making trouble or whether there is anything of genuine concern.
The same people plus a few more turned up unannounced in Kaikoura and put their case there and the people present did not buy it. I read people complaining it was because more people that support Mark S turned up… HELLOOOOO!!!!! Is this not the point? This is how you work out who the people believe or support.
Still at least these concerned Ngai Tahu did turn up and put their case to the people on a marae.
But now that more meetings are being called they don’t come to them. These people may have valid concerns but unless they come to the meetings and put their views to the rest of Ngai Tahu in person then it becomes more likely that these concerns are without substance and are about personalities and politics.
They had the chance at Rehua to speak to over 200 Ngai Tahu and heaps of our elders. But they stayed away.
Now I see on the Ngai Tahu website that Awarua intend to exclude the majority of Ngai Tahu from going to the marae to hear what the concerns are and what the answers in response are. Only members of Awarua and invitees can attend.
I can accept excluding non-Ngai Tahu and the press, but if they are serious about there being concerns then all Ngai Tahu should be able to attend and hear them instead of getting all this second hand stuff.
There was a lot of people from the south that were at Rehua but many more have not had the chance to hear what the differing views are.
Why more secret meetings? Surely all Ngai Tahu are entitled to go to any of these meetings?
Good points from Southbound. My belief is that these hui are not going to change anyone’s mind or bring much clarity to anything. They do give some people the forum to get worked up, abusive and disrespectful. These two (groups of)opponents need a neutral venue, a cage that they can’t get out of, and some kaumatua to bang their heads together. Whilst I am ever the optimist I think we have a bit further down to go before we begin to head up.
Marty,
You might like to go back to the beginning of my blog if you have not already done so. I think you might see a serious of events all all slightly different, but all seeking to destabilise the tribal leadership in pursuit of power. The malcontents have had plenty of opportunities to express their grievances over the years but never have. They can do so because they are not answerable to anyone. The Runanga they come from have never held elections. If they do its just with a small clique and not with with their wider shareholder base. For example I should by right ( according to the Whakakapa Unit)I should be able to vote at Awarua. Despite a number of enquiries to Awarua I am ignored
Marty,
You might like to go back to the beginning of my blog if you have not already done so. I think you might see a serious of events all all slightly different, but all seeking to destabilise the tribal leadership in pursuit of power. The malcontents have had plenty of opportunities to express their grievances over the years but never have. They can do so because they are not answerable to anyone. The Runanga they come from have never held elections. If they do its just with a small clique and not with with their wider shareholder base. For example I should by right ( according to the Whakakapa Unit)I should be able to vote at Awarua. Despite a number of enquiries to Awarua I am ignored
Thanks for that Richard. You raised some very good points (as usual). I suppose i just find it hard to believe that the members of the ‘Collective’ are just maliciously trying to create power for themselves at any cost, including the destruction of our tribal mana.
I certainly agree that their latest actions to date, including secret hui, use of PR campaign, and trying to take the head out with concerted, premeditated attacks are the latest in a long line of unacceptable actions.
Maybe they should be excommunicated in some way, as you say, they have had plently of chances to sort their issues out over the years.
but doing that just doesn’t sit well with me.
So are they mad, bad or sad?
If they had raised their issues in another way would anyone have listened? Spose we will never know now.
Look forward to reading about the Awarua Hui
Thanks for that Richard. You raised some very good points (as usual). I suppose i just find it hard to believe that the members of the ‘Collective’ are just maliciously trying to create power for themselves at any cost, including the destruction of our tribal mana.
I certainly agree that their latest actions to date, including secret hui, use of PR campaign, and trying to take the head out with concerted, premeditated attacks are the latest in a long line of unacceptable actions.
Maybe they should be excommunicated in some way, as you say, they have had plently of chances to sort their issues out over the years.
but doing that just doesn’t sit well with me.
So are they mad, bad or sad?
If they had raised their issues in another way would anyone have listened? Spose we will never know now.
Look forward to reading about the Awarua Hui
Marty asks, if they had raised their issues in another way would any one have listened?
Firstly, what issues? I have tried in vain to work out what the issues are. House of Tahu features but why? Apart from the cultural centre aspect of it it is just another property investment. There was no outrage when TR voted to build the Queenstown Medical centre or the Post Office precinct or the Christcurch Civic Centre.
Then there was Mark and Donalds huge salary increase that turned out to be a huge farce because the numbers reported did not relate to the salaries at all.
There was concern about the separation of TR from the business activities of HC. But TR was already working on doing that via the governance review process and the Reps involved knew that. They also failed to raise the issue of HC getting actively involved in the politics of the tribe.
Raises the question of just how many of those runanga and named individuals who are behind this campaign were on the non transparent non accountable gravy train?
One stated goal was the reduction in tension between the HC and TR and the Office. It seems that has been dealt with too, not I suspect in the way the so called collective wanted.
The big one was the removal of Mark Solomon. The question is why? And if there is a why then who is to fill his shoes. Nuk or Tahu or perhaps even Ward Kamo? Or perhaps James thinks he can have another go. Of course they need to get enough of the right kind of people appointed to TR first. So what is needed is a climate of unhappiness so that the five get the numbers (and of course Ward, Nuk and Tahu have to get appointed to TR and James needs reappointed).
I admit to a jaundiced view of these characters and their intentions. I agree there could and should be debates about whether the tribe should invest for our future by way of bricks and mortar vs protection of our cultural heritage. The thinking of our old people was we should do both because that is how we honour the vision of “for us and our children after us”.
If we don’t invest in growing the putea and asset base then the settlement will have been just for us. I, like Marty and others, could think of really valid ways to spend $50 million other than on the House of Tahu. I could find 12 very worthy projects of the same kind and the 600 million asset base we have would be gone.
The target should not the $50 mill investment in bricks and mortar and our future (assuming it is a wise investment) it is the appropriate, open and transparent spending of the income generated from the $600 mill and growing asset base.
We all have a view of whether TR is doing a good job or not. Not so many go home and or make the effort to particpate in the process via their runanga and or talk to their runanga rep about what is going on.
All the best all blacks and all black coaches are in the stands or in armchairs.
Marty asks, if they had raised their issues in another way would any one have listened?
Firstly, what issues? I have tried in vain to work out what the issues are. House of Tahu features but why? Apart from the cultural centre aspect of it it is just another property investment. There was no outrage when TR voted to build the Queenstown Medical centre or the Post Office precinct or the Christcurch Civic Centre.
Then there was Mark and Donalds huge salary increase that turned out to be a huge farce because the numbers reported did not relate to the salaries at all.
There was concern about the separation of TR from the business activities of HC. But TR was already working on doing that via the governance review process and the Reps involved knew that. They also failed to raise the issue of HC getting actively involved in the politics of the tribe.
Raises the question of just how many of those runanga and named individuals who are behind this campaign were on the non transparent non accountable gravy train?
One stated goal was the reduction in tension between the HC and TR and the Office. It seems that has been dealt with too, not I suspect in the way the so called collective wanted.
The big one was the removal of Mark Solomon. The question is why? And if there is a why then who is to fill his shoes. Nuk or Tahu or perhaps even Ward Kamo? Or perhaps James thinks he can have another go. Of course they need to get enough of the right kind of people appointed to TR first. So what is needed is a climate of unhappiness so that the five get the numbers (and of course Ward, Nuk and Tahu have to get appointed to TR and James needs reappointed).
I admit to a jaundiced view of these characters and their intentions. I agree there could and should be debates about whether the tribe should invest for our future by way of bricks and mortar vs protection of our cultural heritage. The thinking of our old people was we should do both because that is how we honour the vision of “for us and our children after us”.
If we don’t invest in growing the putea and asset base then the settlement will have been just for us. I, like Marty and others, could think of really valid ways to spend $50 million other than on the House of Tahu. I could find 12 very worthy projects of the same kind and the 600 million asset base we have would be gone.
The target should not the $50 mill investment in bricks and mortar and our future (assuming it is a wise investment) it is the appropriate, open and transparent spending of the income generated from the $600 mill and growing asset base.
We all have a view of whether TR is doing a good job or not. Not so many go home and or make the effort to particpate in the process via their runanga and or talk to their runanga rep about what is going on.
All the best all blacks and all black coaches are in the stands or in armchairs.
Kia ora Southbound,
You have raised some good points.
The issue of an issue or no issue. It is difficult to find the actual reasons for all of this from the collective. Yes they have released PR documents and issued the challenge to get rid of everybody, but as you say, when you really delve down into each of the points – what do you find? Not much really.
I think what that shows is not so much that there are no issues but that the issues are difficult to quantilfy or pin down. They don’t fit within easy catagories, they combine feelings and other more nebulous, hard to grasp stuff. (and I’m okay with that but it does tend to look like personality politics to me.)
The big problem for the collective is that they have completely misread the people. In fact they haven’t really given a stuff about the wider tribal members. All of the material that I have seen (publically posted) show that the collective have never enjoyed the support of the people – that is why they have had to use the clumsy PR releases that they so gleefully thought would create the fertile ground for the revolution.
My feeling is that whilst many Ngai Tahu are not 100% or even 70% satisfied with the current administration, they like them better than the collective. So where to now? It is hard to imagine anything happening… more of the same…
The 50 million isn’t the issue, inclusion, communication, respect and contribution are the issues. I don’t believe that my reps have a clue about whether the HoT is a good idea or not – how could they, they are just reading the papers presented by OTRONT. And if that is the case why not get my view and other views that may or may not agree with the OTRONT view. At least with our views they are coming from Ngai Tahu.