This appeared in "The Press" today
"Ngai Tahu leader Mark Solomon has strong backing within the tribe despite calls for his resignation, insiders say.
An email petition, initiated by the Awarua runanga in Bluff, said tribal members had lost confidence in Solomon's leadership and called for his dismissal.
However, former Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation (NTHC) director Richard Parata said yesterday that Solomon had "enormous support" from the Ngai Tahu people and around the board table.
"He's extraordinarily diplomatic.
"He's got one of the sharpest minds I have come across," Parata said.
"Maoridom tends to be attracted to heroic figures. What Mark is a consensus person.
"I think there's a conspiracy to take control of the tribe, and the people behind it see him as a barrier to that."
Awarua chairwoman Hana Morgan would not comment on the petition calling for Solomon's dismissal, saying it was an internal issue.
The petition follows an email from Martin Solomon and his sister, Hariata Manawatu, Solomon's aunt and uncle, calling on him to step down.
Solomon's position is likely to be discussed at his Kaikoura runanga's monthly meeting on March 15.
Meanwhile, Rapaki Tront representative Donald Couch was voted off the board at a special meeting last month.
Couch is in Canada and could not be reached for comment, but Parata said the method for voting him off was unconstitutional."
Kaiwhakahaere-ra.
Me Donald hoki.
I gather this means if the report in the paper is supportive of Mark “one of the sharpest minds” Solomon, then it is acceptable.
However if the media contains examples of his verbal abuse and intimidation of whanau, and a request by his kaumatua to stand down, that isnt?
I guess it is all a case of perception and bias eh Richard?
Rangi “extraordinarily diplomatic” Jones
If two out of six or seven people that have posted here support the Kaiwhakahaere and the balance are critical, where is the ‘strong support’ even on your own site?
As for Mr Solomon being ‘extraordinarily diplomatic’ and a ‘consensus person’ why has he been unable to unify the Te RÅ«nanga Table for more than four years? Further, why has there been such an extraordinary turnover of NgÄi Tahu staff in the Office of Te RÅ«nanga while NTHC has seen a commensurate increase in NgÄi Tahu employees?
That NgÄi Tahu would be led and staffed by our own best and brightest was a moemoea of the iwi during the Claim years and enshrined in the 2025 document. I am delighted that, under the leadership of Wally Stone, NTHC has upped it’s game and look forward to The Office stepping up to the mark too.
PS I am re-posting this as it seems to have been eaten
I think Evelyn needs to have a good look at the Ngai Tahu structure.
Mark Solomon does not employ nor direct the NTHC staff. Though I do think your dear Wally did have something to do with that area.
And yes Mark Solomon is diplomatic, even though I have personally begged him not to be, I want him to tell the iwi which reps that sit at the TRONT table under the guise of working for the people (LOL) that leak information, that cause trouble at every meeting, that have the media numbers on speed dial. Tell the iwi, so when it all falls to pieces, the iwi will know whose doors they need to knock at.
But I get the same answer every time from him, I don’t believe Ngai Tahu’s business should be in the media.
So, why don’t you go into business with Wally and Tahu and Nuku and the rest of the forked tongues, see how far you get before your shafted, see if you can stand up to the constant crap that they offer daily.
Go ahead join their ranks, and go ahead and tell the other 10 that voted Wally out that they didnt have the right to oust your dear Wally. But you wouldn’t have the courage to do that would you?
Kia ora Rana
As you would know, had you been around, I have had a lot of experience of the Kaiwhakahaere’s particular leadership style, diplomacy (or the lack of it) and general comportment towards people who hold views contrary to his.
Further, I didn’t say that the Kaiwhakahaere employed staff in either OTRONT or NTHC. In fact, my point was the reverse. Under the former Chair of NTHC and the current COO, recruitment of iwi members has improved considerably. That does not seem to be as apparent in OTRONT over the past couple of years. This may be changing but the change in NTHC is significant and a trend that I hope will continue. It is good of you to point out to everyone that it is nothing to do with any actions of the Kaiwhakahaere.
I have no intentions of going into business with anyone. I am a member of the iwi who has experienced at first hand the very nasty consequences of a representative trying to stand up for both the letter of the law vis a vis the Charter of Te RÅ«nanga and the NgÄi Tahu Act and, I know that the final consequence of the extreme stress, long hours of work, loyalty to the iwi and ignoring the advice of medical professionals to try one last time to meet the expectations of the iwi, was the untimely death of my much loved partner and soulmate of more than 10 years, Kelly Davis Te Maire, two years ago tomorrow.
The very real disrespect and offense shown to my partner, my family and myself before and after his death most certainly didn’t come from Tahu Potiki, Wally Stone or Nuk Korako but rather closer to you and yours. Not all of them, of course. Some know their tikanga.
No one should be treated with disrespect by other people, whether they are the Kaiwhakahaere or a simple beneficiary such as myself. Asking questions, searching for facts and openly expressing a lack of confidence in the current incumbent Kaiwhakahaere of TRONT should not be seen as ‘crap’. If that is your view of my openly expressed personal opinion, then you have lived a sheltered life.
I will continue to advocate for a change of Kaiwhakahaere in the hope that someone fresh will be albe to lead the Table away from the negativity that has been the norm for much of the past five years just as I actively campaigned to have Mr Solomon the choice as Kaiwhakahaere ten years ago. It saddens me that I feel that I can no longer support him but that, surely, is my right as a member of the iwi.
I hold my feelings from personal experience, not from the views of others and, whether or not others agree with me is irrelevant. I don’t expect you to understand and I respect your loyalty. Perhaps you might be courteous enough to return the compliment.
Evelyn, you hold your beliefs and I hold mine. I am sorry that you cant afford to continue supporting my brother, but I Will
stand beside him always.
no, I havent left a sheltered life, the complete opposite in fact. I was the black sheep and spent 21 years away from my whanau but I have always been close to Mark.
I know that Mark is a very honest man with high integrity and I love him.
you are aslo right about being treated with disrepect and I will ask Mark about it and if it happened then I apologise because that isn’t fair nor is it tika.
so I do undertand where you are coming from and I like you respect your loyalty.