18 February 2010

For Immediate Release

Major challenge to West Auckland treaty settlement looming

Just as Te Kawerau-a-Maki prepares to receive millions of dollars and a land package that includes Paremoremo Prison as part of the Auckland Treaty settlement, a serious challenge has emerged to its right to represent Maori in west Auckland

Ngapuhi tribal leader David Rankin, has condemned Te Kawerau-a-Maki and its leadership. “The tribe has no mandate from the people”, says Mr Rankin, “there is no transparency in its dealings, its leaders are self-appointed, and it has no plan as to how it will allocate the settlement money”.

Mr Rankin, who is also of Te Kawerau-a-Maki, has said he may seek an injunction to the settlement and take charge of the situation.

“My belief is that whatever money is received should be allocated equally to every member of Te Kawerau-a-Maki, and that they should all receive a share of the rent from the prison.  All our people can become landlords”.

Mr Rankin is especially critical of Te Kawerau-a-Maki member Te Warena Taua: “He does not live in the area like I do, and I have asked him where is his mandate – either from the people or through whakapapa – to claim to be a leader.  He has not been able to reply to that question.  His relationship with the Mayor, Bob Harvey, seems to be the only criteria for his claim to being a tribal leader”.

Mr Rankin is demanding a proper election for a board and chairperson for the tribe before any settlement is concluded.  “I can promise”, he says,  “that Te Kawerau-a-Maki will not see a cent from the settlement until this matter has been satisfactorily resolved.

 Mr Rankin says he would like to start his campaign for transparency by demanding that the Waitakere City Council disclose publicly all the ratepayer money it has paid to Te Kawerau-a-Makin in the past three years. “The ratepayers of West Auckland will be in for a shock when they find out how many hundreds of thousands of dollars have been paid to a handful of people in the tribe”.

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