Iwi no longer ‘adhering to values’
Sir Mark Solomon has lobbed a bombshell into Ngai Tahu, saying the organisation does not adhere to the iwi’s values.
Solomon, who left his role as Ngai Tahu Kaiwhakahaere after an 18-year stint in December, has been honoured at farewells this month but, in an interview with Native Affairs on Maori TV, fired a last salvo at his organisation.
The knight, who now heads the Canterbury District Health Board, has consistently refused to speak to The Press over the last year about tribal issues.
When asked by Native Affairs if he had confidence in Arihia Bennett, the chief executive of Ngai Tahu’s tribal organisation, Solomon said he had only a limited amount of confidence in her.
‘‘I don’t think it’s a place the values are adhered to,’’ he said.
Solomon did not specify which values were under attack but said: ‘‘We talk about them but we do not act them. I don’t have confidence she will get there.’’
Relations with Bennett reached a low last year when Solomon publicly questioned in an email the appointment of some staff and claimed the iwi organisation could be seen as corrupt and nepotistic.
Bennett struck back with a detailed rebuke at Solomon’s claims asking for evidence. Both documents were leaked to The Press.
Solomon told Native Affairs he was not saying anybody had done anything wrong but was attacking the perception of the way the tribal organisation operated. He said he had been unable to make changes because he was in governance not management.
In the Native Affairs programme, Solomon said some on the tribe’s board had not wanted to address the issues he was raising and had leaked material.
He said the $250,000 spent on an investigation to find who leaked the documents was well spent as the leak had to be addressed.
Solomon struck out at his Kaikoura runanga, which replaced him as its representative last year, making his position as kaiwhakahaere untenable.
He said some in the runanga had resisted his determination to address generations of sexual abuse in his wider whanau and were also concerned about being accountable for finances.
He was replaced as chairman of the runanga and then as representative on the Ngai Tahu board. Ngai Tahu employee Henare Manawatu became the new chairman but he has also stood aside.
Solomon said he was standing by the sexual abuse victims and confirmed a list had been drawn up of 70 victims within his community.
Bennett and Solomon did not respond to requests for comment.
"I don't think it's a place the values are adhered to." Sir Mark Solomon, former Ngai Tahu Kaiwhakahaere