High Court case of Waho v Olsen-Ratana

Tauaki Papaho - Press release by Toni Waho in relation to High Court case of Waho v Olsen-Ratana

I te tau 2013 i whiwhi Te Poari Matua o Te Kohanga Reo ki etehi whakapae nui e pā ana ki te hē o te whakapau pūtea. I hāngai aua whakapae ki tā Te Poari ake whakapau pūtea, ki tā Te Pātaka Ōhanga hoki.

Ko taku huatau, kāore anō aua whakapae kia āta tūhuratia. Ki ōku nei whakaaro he tikanga mōtika kei ngā kaitiaki kia ea ai ō mātau haepapa ki te ānga o Te Kōhanga Reo kia āta tūhuratia aua whakapae. Ka pā taua haepapa ki te whakamōhio atu ki ngā mana ā-ture e tika ana.
I te 17 o Poutū-te-rangi, i whakamōhio atu a au ki ngā Minita o te Karauna ērā e tuku ana i ngā pūtea ki te Poari Matua he whakapae kāore anō kia tūhuratia. Ko ētehi o ngā kaitiaki e mea ana nā taku whakamōhiotanga atu ki ngā Minita nāku te ingoa me te mana o te Poari i whakaparu, i takahi. Kei te hiahia rātau kia panaia a au hei kaitiaki. Kāore a au i te whakaae.

I tono a au ki te Kooti Teitei kia aukatia tā Te Poari pana i a au. I pērā ai a au i runga i taku hiahia kia ū tonu a au ki te mahi tika hei tautoko i ngā Kōhanga Reo. Waihoki, ko te tūhura i ngā whakapae tetehi o aku taku, ā, ko ngā whakahoutanga i te Poari e kōrerotia ana e ngā Kōhanga Reo tētehi o aku take.

I tēnei rā, i whakakāhore Te Kōti Teitei i taku tono. I whakatau kāore he take kia poka i tā Te Poari i mua i tana pana. Ahakoa tērā, i mārama tā te Kōti, kāore i te tautoko i tā Te Poari.
Kei te matapaki a au i ngā huarahi hei whai māku i te taha o ētehi. Kei te rapu a au i ngā huatau anō e pā ana ki te pīratanga i tā Te Kōti Teitei, e pā ana ki te whai i ngā huarahi atu.

In 2013, Te Kohanga Reo Trust Board received a number of serious allegations of financial impropriety. These related both to actions within the Trust and within its commercial arm, Te Pataka Ohanga.

In my opinion, these allegations have never been properly investigation. I have been of the view that the trustees owe it to te Kohanga Reo movement to see that this is done. This includes reporting these allegations to the appropriate authorities.

On 17 March 2014, I took the step of informing the Ministers of the Crown responsible for funding the Trust of the existence of these allegations. Other trustees have taken the view that by doing that I have brought the Trust into disrepute. They are therefore attempting to remove me from the Board. I do not accept that that is right.

I asked the High Court to stop the Board from removing me as a trustee. I did this because I wish to continue to act for the best interests of the movement. In particular, I want to stay to ensure that all allegations are properly dealt with and the current efforts to reform the Board are completed in a way that best suits the future of the movement.

Today, the High Court declined by interim application. It did so on the basis that it was not convinced that the pre-emptive interference of the Court was necessary. In doing that, the Court has made it clear that it is no way endorsing the decisions of the Board.

I am discussing with others what is my best next step. I am seeking opinions on whether I can appeal this decision, or whether I should continue the fight for the interests of the movement through other means.

Toni Waho

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