The Kaiwhakahaere cannot be removed by the TRoNT representatives.
A week ago I was looking through the Ngai Tahu Charter about another matter when I came across the clause about the removal of the Kaiwhakahaere.
This clause 6.13 (c) (ii) "The Members may by Ordinary Resolution determine: To remove any person from the office of Kaiwhakahaere or Deputy Kaiwhakahaere at any time before the end of the term for which that that person has been appointed."
"Members" ( in the definition section in The Charter) "means the 18 Papatipu Runanga, namely:"–and it goes on to name each Runanga (Marae) Runanga have the power not the Representatives.
So this means the coup mounted to oust Mark Solomon some months ago by Te Maire Tau was unconstitutional. This just reinforces my point that TRoNT are poorly advised by their executive, in particular, their Company Secretary, at the time, Andrew Harrison, on this issue.. In the Kaiwhakahaere elections in May, 14 of the 18 marae (Members) apparently pledged written support for Solomon. Yet the vote was tied 9-9.
These pledges were not mentioned and ignored by the Company Secretary, Andrew Harrison, who ran the election process. Clearly, 5 representatives ( 14 minus 9 ) did not vote the way they were instructed to.
The vote was in secret much to the annoyance of those watched the election process. Andrew Harrison is currently the acting Chief Operations Officer of NTHC.