MUAUPOKO TRIBAL AUTHORITY

WHY THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO LOOK FURTHER

With funding by CFRT the Crown Forestry Rental Trust and Te Puni Kokiri and not forgetting Fisheries money the MTA has a reason to get a mandate to run every claim including Wai 108. They own and have included ALL new names in their Wai 52 whose original claimants have all passed on. Those now running this claim have in the most part never been involved in Maori affairs in the tribe running back over 30 years with many having indirect whakapapa not direct to Maori Chiefs.

Following the start of the Waitangi claims being heard and settled there was a barrage of claims laid out with most thinking they were in for a settlement of cash as individuals. Like many things Maori are there own worse enemy---they sit back thinking they can reap rewards with little or no input and unlike immigrants Indian, Chinese who come to settle in NZ they do not have an aim as they believe the Government & others owe them. Yet you will find many have never ever had any input in tribal custom like for instance working in the kitchen at tangis and huis. In the case of Muaupoko, If you look at the Hokio A & Hokio Maori Township these are the most important Trusts in the rohi. They need a proper Trust set up--- what is there now is a disfunctional Trust that the Maori Land Court shows no concern in intervention. Instead you have Trustees with no Trust background, who cannot abide by Trust rules and who do not not endeavour to learn how a proper Trust should run. This has been the case for years. A proper MTA lead trust or such like is necessary for all not just a few. There are houses on both Trust lands with noone paying rent & with squatters who pay no rentals and you will see quite clearly there is no pride in these Maoris even looking after the houses that were given back to us. No authority runs them as the Trust is inexperienced and do nothing --the homes just decline as the squatters do nothing , no maintenance is carried out and thus the homes are now in state of decay. One Trustee occupies one of the homes and does not set an example. Not rents are asked for and appears in May 2013 the Trust have paid to have their sewerage removed yet no other owners who have a right get a dividend nor have a say.

But getting back to the claims all of a sudden everyone started sending in claims most thinking a pot of gold was in line for them yet had never had any input in the affairs of their tribe. Most of these claimants had alterior motives & no input into their claim nor pre research carried out to base their claims as those against the crown that they were predjudiced against --it was purely personal injustice but some sold their lands against wishes of other Maori telling them not too. In 1957-58 some were coerced into swapping land for cars; some had gambling problems; other did deals in the now closed Grand Hotel etc yet some did so at the beset of other Maori saying not to sell. We now have Muaupoko with 23 claims with a lot not having a real hands on knowledge of exactly what they are claiming for. Sime believe they have been neglected & disadvantaged but thern look at their own work record, their contribution to the Iwi and as I say their contribution from the kitchen to the claim they so believe they have a right to. However each claim is different & each claim needs to be substantiated not by lawyers who know nothing unless they have the same tribal affiliations but by speaking & knowing their own whakapapa & knowledge.

But we also have the urban authority the MTA Muaupoko Tribal Authority has never written to any of the claimants including Wai 108 for views to come together as one? This is what we wanted and still do as we are not with the MCC cluster either. In every tribe whether its in Africa or Asia or the islands history has alway shown it is the fittest and strongest who lead and continue the blood lines down generations-- Maori tikanga is thus very important for the security of any tribe but here its neglected. By blood lines this allows for the contuation of strong blood lines in a groupings and maintains the structure of a tribe just as a matriach in the elephants animal kingdom leads. Tribal is tribal---direct is paramount--indirect is why we have urban authorities. But in saying this tribal conflicts can become problematic in maintaining a balance between subtribes and hapus as in NZ tribal cases. We have already seen many Iwi Authorities who control yet their whakapapa is in question---but who is qualified to ask those questions of whakapapa. In Muaupoko its the same?.

My background in cultural issues was working in SEAsia in the 90s with Roxana Brown the ex World Asian Ceramic expert who agreed the role of Tribal was no different in Asia as it is in NZ and the Pacific Islands or macronesia. It was her work which dated the Thai people as being 4500years old with others [ Maori can only go back some 160 years before mythology overtakes ]. This discovery in Bann Chang NE Essan of Thailand established why the original Thai today came from the NE region and not from China as many experts thought. But Thais have round eyes? & have similar features to us Maori even in their cutural base eg. patakis, storage ideals, tikanga. But they also are run by direct lineage & in their case they had kings not Chiefs & kanmen with elders as in our Kaumatua or Kaunihera Kaumatuas. Direct blood lines are very important and to renounce these in favour of indirect is not tribal and cannot be expressed as tikanga so if the NZ Government goes on urban authority then it is wrong and we have lost our heritage & mana. This has already started in NZ where Rangitane was ignored in favour of TMI the urban authority yet were told as was the Waitangi Tribunal and ignored. Chieftainship can however be had by virtue of ther work and leadership whether it is male or female and is not justy an inherent right.

That means the NZ Government must look at having a Government appointed and approved Muaupoko Tribal Trust Body of capable business tribal members to oversee any settlement and those with strong lineage & not made up by votes which has been the downfall of Land Trusts due to enept trustees voted purely as family pawns for those families who control the voting. It is never achieved on experience. At the same time we have CFRT the Crown Forestry Rental Trust whose trustees oversee the allocation of funding for tribal claimants based on clusters or majority issues. Here we see Trustees who do by whatever means they use allocate according to I believe majority of a claimant mandate yet do they actually vet a society. As one will know an accounting record may show where money is going but will not show where it really went as accounts just need to match one side with the other? and anyone whose good on figure work can get around this and especially having a society?? At the same time would CFRT after giving funding to one; and after realizing their mistake in doing so retract that funding? Are the credibility of those Trustees at stake? Are those Trustees who could be nominated for knighthoods rather than being honest, correct the wrongs & still get there dues they want? or will they say nothing and when the time is right the exposure will finally be brought into being??

The Government has ignored tikanga the most important aspect for Maori. To brush this aside the politicians who allow the MTA a mandate on a flawed AGM etc and false media exposure plus Te Puni Kokiri's irresponsible draft is totally wrong so this website will portray just why there is a problem that needs to be solved. Remember too the Kaunihera Kaumatua Council never holds meetings in the Horowhenua so kaumatua are not even advised or asked to offer advice from those who have knowledge.

HOW EASY IS IT TO LOSE EVERYTHING:

However, an iwi or tribe in NZ can lose all the money they receive from the Government of NZ is easy to fathom. Bad investments, inexperienced Trustees, lack of vision, the Aaron Gilmore's, self help rather than for our younger generations & most of all traditional tikanga. Wai Claims allow urban authorities and those with indirect whakapapa or geneology to start and form trusts to receive such monies from the Government starting off to facilitate social services. The Government of course wants to wash their hands of these cases so they quickly aim to have direct negotiations with authorities who have no experience apart from being able to manipulate their followers by a numbers game--the same as why the MLC Maori Land Court will not intervene and allow voters establish their own trustees, which has never worked in the Horowhenua and does not work when you look at the track record of trusts in the Horowhenua.

Once whoever has a mandate its hard to reverse so the NZ Govt needs to get this house in order first. But why is Muaupoko sidelined when our NgaiTahu could get in twice and reap what they claimed for years ago & we lanmguish and lose the very kaumatua and kuia needed to present our oral knowledge---then have the Government conficate more property from us in the name of Asset sales to fill the coffers. In 2013 the Government are taking our Lands like the Hospital & Kohitere off the land banking as they want to sell. Why? and why is our claim which is historical still in limbo. There are those who can conduct social services but there is just a small band that can only conduct business concepts perhaps with experienced outside help as well. Its always been the same with Maori tribes and always will be as portrayed by . Some in the family structure receive all the jobs and those smaller entities of families miss out as their voice is never heard not forgetting the quieter ones who say nothing yet perhaps can contribute if only they were asked. But its not just in NZ. Its tribal and where it is tribal its the norm world wide the fittest win the not so fit lose with not many rules in the game eg. Uganda, Rawanda, Soloman Islands etc.

But those who run these Trusts have never experienced having funds to play with and as with Ngati Tama it was a loose closed shop to do as they pleased. With Muapoko its the same. Not one of the promoters has ever invested their own funds at risk yet now want to go direct negotiations with the Crown behind closed doors to receive whatever the Crown will give them as a fair deal. They will receive what they feel is an adequate settlement for all but as one will see it will never filter down. The scary part is if one has never invested own funds at risk or even had the ability to save via business sums over $100k then how can one trust where these funds will go eventually--we all know the answer to this. What is a good investment and how will this settlement be based on what calculations--will land returns be in $$$ amounts as fair and how if the MTA have no research conducted to date can they even think of going for a Crown Settlement without input from those who know more?.

Remember Noone else is allowed just representatives in the group they choose and this is where the fault lies.

The Crown does not care as they want this all over and they do not care about the children and the families who will gain nothing--that being the majority of the Maoris in the group tribe under the claim territory. The lawyers of course charge what they like and the Justice system does not even vet what is paid to these lawyers nor the applicants whose claims they are on the back with know unless a claimant asks for this. The claimants are not told until after the Legal Aid is paid to the lawyer & a simple letter is sent to the Claimant to say the Justice Dept Legal Aid have OK'd the payment to such and such for the hours of work they have claimed for---& its in the 10s of 1000s as some of the commercial Law firms charge I have heard $400NZ an hour---not bad for writing a few letters.

But they--the Legal Aid Dept do ask the applicants if they have a problem with the payment after saying they have paid the lawyers?? now is this crazy--no it can't be as its the NZ Justice System policy. In business one must send in an invoice then statement to then receive payments but this way is as said the policy? But of course things happen and as the claims progress of course action by some lawyers is that they are thinking this is the best opportunity to fill their pockets up and decide to buy property under a mortgage. Well as at June 2012 there seems to be a go slow with payments as too many lawyers---yes apparently Ngati Raukawa have I heard around 52 lawyers on the pay roll?? are all in for the kill. I can also see why the Government want a quick solution.

WAI 108 LEGAL ADVISER:

Wai 108 had no legal adviser and then sought to use the services of a lawyer in 2011 following the Porirua Judicial conference which we attended. We did look at a lawyer who we thought would be suitable but due to services we never received we decided that the research we had at hand did not warrant using legal aid as we had carried out our research and only needed to file what was necessary. We decided not to carry on with legal aid as also we realized why spend tax payers monies on something the legal services knew little about regarding our rohi & tribe which in itself is important to have someone who is familiar with our history. We also see that very few lawyers have this knowledge only the legal aspects.

But in not having legal services we will be writing about the legal services in an upcoming book on our side of the real reasons and truth why we did not feel legal aid for our claim was necessary.

By withdrawing also from the MCC cluster it we our judgement that many of the MCC cluster never spoke at meetings, had no input and it seemd\ed were only interested in their own whanau claims but noone elses. We decided to become an independent because of this. We wanted to carry on our taki ourselves and not waste taxpayers monies. Dialogue was necessary--- theres already a body setup with the MTA and we need compromise on issues important for the well being of the tribe. There had been no dialogue---no meetings---no future. Too much infighting by certain factions has caused fragmentation and its only by a few yet the majority tend to keep silent. We have been told Raukawa have 52 lawyers but why if they have carried out reseach does one even need a lawyer? More on the legal aid issues [ See Legal aid ]

But during this time we finally had an AGM.

The AGM of June 8th 2011 came about &

THIS IS IMPORTANT TO READ.

MUAUPOKO TRIBAL AUTHORITY AGM 2011 although noone was allowed to speak for long one could see why this meeting took place---all prior huis were disrupted!!

The MTA AGM at Pariri marae 10am 19th June 2011, I attended with Moana Sinclair LLB lawyer & Linda Thornton both lawyers. Those elders present included Charles Rudd, Tama Ruru, Peter, Paul & Dave Huria, Russell Packer, Bruce Proctor, Viviane Taueki, Mick Wilton, Bruce Proctor, Bruce Murray. Others also were present. The hui started with karakia but there was no acknowledgement to the kaumatua or Kuia there by anyone.   Anton Rautahi??? Whose whangai to Heteraiki whanau and Rautahi from Rangitane line presided—he is new and has never before had anything to do with Muaupoko. There was no introductions of executives or even Board members nor any elections of officers, nor who were what in the MTA.

To this day we still do not know what employment or who they worked for from Steve Hirini and Mahanga Williams. Understand Mahanga told us he was asked by Whata Winiata of Raukawa to form the MTA & it was he who got Steve Hirini the job. Steve Hirini may not be a qualified CEO as noone has received any information of his former business but he was dedicated and learnt perhaps moreso than any others in the MTA. The AGM was directed by Mahanga and Anton with a mixed Chair. No Board members said anything apart from Robert Warrington on the Fisheries while some like Timoti Williams would tell Mahanga what to say bethind the scenes and what to do—I was not allowed to bring up General business at the start nor was I allowed to submit a MOTION TO THE FLOOR as per when I asked the question for General Business to be allowed.

NO GENERAL BUSINESS ALLOWED AT THE AGM:

The AGM heard apologies etc then Tama Ruru attempted to get General Business on the agenda saying it was 2 years since the last AGM. Mahanga Williams said NO after they discussed amongst themselves so no General Business was allowed in the AGM. But remember there has been no AGM the year before?? and general business is important. The only ones that talked was Steven Hirini  and Mahanga with Mahanga's wife taking the minutes which we will see 1 year later were doctored & not a correct record of what took place?. Worse the attendees list disappeared so they the MTA can now make up their own numbers for their mandating process. This is a complete farce for an AGM & something the CFRT Trustees should be asking questions about which they don't as funding is already allocated out. Its therefore hard to retract as makes the Trustees look stupid??

Throughout the AGM  Mahanga vetoed or tried to make short every part of the agenda to push the take [ topics of the meeting ] through quickly and allowing beneficiaries time to address any topics. It was a numbers game as many such meetings are all over maoridom. He did not want any discussion but a quick AGM with everything passed through with very little dialogue. Mahanga was quick to pass anything. No executives talked---no Board members spoke and there was no dwelling off the topics that needed addressing. People had max 5 minutes to say anything before they went on to the next part of the agenda.

NEW CONSTITUTION NOT EVEN READ WERE PASSED:

The new financial records were incomplete so the CEOs report could not be accepted yet it was accepted?? There were no financial books available in April 2011 nor for the period before in 2010. The accountant from Small & Co Levin who was present said he could not give an accurate audit due to not being given all the books on time so thus presented nothing. Remember this is an AGM of a soiety who wants to have a mandate to lead Muaupoko to get the Waitangi Settlement. Copies of the sets of rules were supposed to be available 21 days before the hui yet were not then not enough copies were even circulated at the hui of financial statements etc and no one had time let alone understand the rules.

In the meantime the old rules had been changed & had still not been accepted nor read prior to the AGM & in its place were now new rules again. Thus the old rules were never ratified or given at a meeting of owners prior to this AGM as the MTA had promised at an earlier stage when a former meeting at Kawiu had seen too many holes in the constituition—this being the old constitution rules. So they needed to rewrite then present back. They never did.

Now at the AGM they had new rules and noone had read them?. [ See NEW RULES ]

NEW CONSTITUTION RULES
The New rules were passed as Mahunga Williams said everyone had read them so had plenty of time to go against when. Once you read them you will see all the anomolies in a set of rules that allows the so called CEO and Chairman seats for life??? as I interpret it plus other bad inserts. I do have these rules and many flaws for the owners. As this AGM meeting one Vivienne Taueki stood up and asked the floor for everyone to put their hands up to say if they understood the rules and read up the rules and AMAZING there were no hands showing?? but they still passed these new rules which in effect gave the CEO a free seat for life. No copies were shown or questions alloiwed to be asked about the NEW constitution rules and no discussion alliowed. No mention at any stage saying beneficiaries must read the report before hand nor any mention that these would be discussed at this hui or presented prior to the AGM. The new rules were therefore not discussed or allowed to be read by any beneficiary prior nor did the MTA ask before the AGM for peoples opinions.

Why?? This is a breech of trust in view of their financial situation & underlying was the fact that rthe MTA were having monetary problems and that they needed the Fisheries money to top up the MTA accounts. Remember we still have not seen any accounts even in June 2012. This to me is why there are no books as now they must cover up their accounts.

Mahanga would not allow for more time that we can go thru these rules and quickly passed them. He said people had plenty of time yet as we have said no one at the AGM when asked if they understood or had read them said yes?? These now new rules invoked unlimited times for the so called CEO not to be challenged & had no mention of terms for the Chairman and CEO so in effect they could now stay on the MTA for life.

You cannot just pass rules like this as no consent by the beneficiaries & to check these changes. He said we all had plenty of time to read them but then we still were not allowed to make comment on them nor did they wish to talk about the rules apart from passing them.  This is wrong—the MTA lawyer who wrote them Matthew Sword should be repremanded for not allowing the old rules to be read over & then the new rules brought in at that hui that never hapened. Those that voted yes did so not knowing what the rules contained as no one had even read them. These rules had been deliberately changed from the older rules which were supposed to be changed then ratified before the new rules were made up supposedly at this AGM.

However as the new rules now contained the Fisheries monies for a new company to be added they wanted to pass as quick as possible. Hence no desention was allowed. The rules from the old rules to the new had been changed yet were not even discussed, In fact at a former hui the old rules were then to be readjusted but the MTA added their own rules to the old rules then had them passed without debating the new rules or allowing people to talk about them. When we tried to talk they just wanted to vote the new rules in which they did. The rules were not read out nor were they discussed as they would not allow it.

MOTIONS NOT ALLOWED:
I asked that a motion be put to the floor that we had time to read the new rules as I had a copy and saw many bad holes in the constitution against wishes of the people and this was subsequently squashed by Mahunga and Steven so no motions were allowed at this AGM at all. Mahanga also said to me people did have time to read the new constitution rules when in fact everyone there had not read them. This was also spoken about by Timoti Williams [ Marakopa Matakatia ] who told the Chairman to say no?? to being allowed to put this motion to the floor.

NO FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS:
The financial accounts were questioned. The accountant said he never received the books. So the CEO report should not have been accepted as they were. They would not allow this and there was insufficient evidence showing the wages and salaries. In fact they passed them when they should not have been passed. To date their has been no audit done yet the MTA have said in various emails they would furnish minutes of the AGM at a further AGM in Oct & Nov 2011 which has been and gone with no AGM still and no financials

The MTA have no credits and no experience with funding & certainly now have no accounting.The fisheries rep Robert Warrington who has zero experience on the fishing side of things and Timothy[Timoti] Williams or as he calls himself Marakopa Matakatea were elected as the delegates in the fisheries yet they do not know anything about fishing and are MTA yet no members of the tribe were approached nor any advertisement for the positions advertised. The MTA never introduced them nor said how they were elected. It seems all jobs are given to their immediate members and staff only. Timoti Williams [ Marakopa ] never spoke but directed to Steve and Mahunga to stop any motions or changes to the agenda. He has most of the jobs so keeps quiet.

OFFICE BUILDING ON A MORTGAGE

Robert Warrington of MTA said they paid the mortgage on the building the MTA are in. This was a debt of $90,000 made by Mario Hori Te Pa an ex MTA officer to  Euan Painter the CEO who ran the MTA before Steven Hirini. The debt was by the MTA on Projects that had gone bad while he was the CEO and they owed money on these projects. In fact this bad judgements by individuals within the MTA who had created these bad debts. It is a bill and those who participated in this debt are still in the MTA. Kaumatua Peter Huria asked who they were but no names was given back to him as again Mahunga interjected and would not allow any answers to the questions. Some of those involved are still on the board up to the end of 2011 when new members were elected. Peter wanted to know who they were and if any were still employed by the MTA. This question was not answered and you will see in the made up minutes of June 2012 presented to our lawyer that no mention of this was in the minutes. People who spoke could only have a say for 5 minutes one time.

Another tribal member Russell Packer asked about the fisheries quota and was not even given an answer as to who got it. He told the MTA his whanau did studies and research on the clams and shore years ago which he did and that he was and is still involved in the fishing industry. The MTA it appears gave the quota to a Chinaman not a  member of the tribe. Russell explained he would have matched any tender but again we see the Board will take the outsider rather than the tribe. No Board members explained this situation even though it was asked for.Alex Hopa asked the executive regarding his experience in fishing and why their were no jobs for him and why one Brendan Tukapua [ whose now chairman as Mahanga resigned ] has never helped any members get jobs in the fisheries. Again he really got nowhere and no answers as well. Phil Taueki also asked for a job and said he was unemployed and on the dole for the last10 years?  Also same with his brother Bill who said he runs or is chairman of 1000 acres in a trust yet for all the years they have never created their own work scheme and asked the MTA for help to input funds to assist the land and jobs—
The hui was abruptly ended as it had started.

MR PETER HURIA Kaumatua who was present wrote the following affidavit:

What concerns me:

• Not having fair representation of claimants – using one rule all with one group
• If the MTA is to be considered a new audit is to be carried out on their systems, stakeholders, finance and a full audit on their current debt IMMEDIATELY
• At the last A.G.M meeting at Pariri Marae the following took place:

• No due process ie: there was no provision for GENERAL BUSINESS
• No financial report and the reports are not up to date due to MTA reporting late to the accountants.
• During voting a quick hand voting process was used to pass motions of importance.
• No proper counting because people were standing outside
• The ‘New’ Constitution was a complete surprise because due process of inclusiveness was nil. One person paid lots of dollars to draw it up.
• Due process of giving speakers speaking time was not allowed by the Chairman
• Due process of Kaumatua were not given proper speaking time THEY WERE CRIED DOWN.
• One of the MTA members (a female) was threating to beat up and bully other attending whanau members.
• We attended a meeting that had pre-planned strategies to be used on the day and any attendees who did not agree with the general conduct were CRIED DOWN.

Signed by
Peter Huria

Some board members are also on the domain board? Minister Kate Wilkinson said CVs were not looked at and it went purely on a vote. Yet all applicants had to file a CV?? now for what?

WHERE DOES THE MTA GET ITS MONEY FROM:
1/. Muaupoko Committee Services: Funds from the community including Horowhenua City Council donations. MTA using Findlay Buddle as their counsel for the High Court in Nov 2011.Ashley Gould approved funding for MTA from CFRT & CFRT are not following their own process but has allowed MTA to seek the mandate and continue to fund them.
2/. Fisheries
3/. CFRT funds to continue but we still have had no AGM. 5/. Steve Hirini has never furnished a CV

Following the AGM it was decided to meet with the MTA to ask why this AGM was so bad. I was accompanied by my legal adviser Moana Sinclair to meet with the Chairman Mahanga Williams

MTA Meeting held on 8th August 2011 at Oxford St office of the MTA.
Present was Mahanga Williams Chairman oif the MTA, Moana Sinclair and Tama Ruru at 1.30pm. Steven Hirini never attended due to having a new house being built and he was in the process of moving in? The meeting was started by Tama mentioning his background to living overseas & the fact he came back from overseas after a 17 year absense. He called into the office to meet with Steven and seeing that Muaupoko finally had an MTA that would help the tribe. His concerns were although Tama mentioned he had a Wai Claim108 going back 20 years previous, to Steven and historic information of the tribal era he asked that the MTA communicate with him on matters to do with the tribe and that he would join the MTA to assist. As a Kaumatua and affiliate of the MTA and as a beneficiary owner he saw this as a very important step at unity as Tama had already conducted research whereas noone in the MTA had.

Steven never acknowledged that he would ask for help or advice, never sent emails when matters to do with Wai claims came about and that in fact Tama received no correspondance on any matters to do with Wai claims after asking. Mahanga noted this and in fact emails started to be sent
 Then  the subject of the June 19th MTA  AGM was brought up. Tama tried and was not allowed to bring forward General Business and to pass a motion at this AGM? to Mahanga was met with silence. As the MTA failed to hold a 2010 AGM Mahanga explained the reason being was that accounts had not been properly assembled and that there was a change in the exec. Tama asked for minutes—no minutes that these would be presented just before an October 2011 AGM. However we explained this is not right. Minutes should be available to beneficiaries directly after an AGM. Tama said the MTA had submitted to the Inc Society office NEW rules quickly BUT it was asked why were old rules not even cleared up then new rules passed and no minutes are available on the numbers, votes etc for the June 2011 AGM. This is a breach of trust and also sidelining not having minutes available to those beneficiaries showing concerns. Mahanga said he would ring directly and ask for legal advice but this was not actioned at this meeting.
It was asked what the MTA were doing with the claim. Explained various NEW members[ ALL original claimants passed away ] had joined in this claim and they were still going direct. Settlement of the claims were discussed. Some claims overlapped, some may have good reasons to receive individual settlements at the conclusion??? Said Mahanga. Eg. If some of the Lake claims had good claims they could receive a part of that settlement?
Further discussion Mahanga explained his role in being asked by Whata Winiata to head the MTA and the problems they have had with various Board members and the fact they have had to postpone board meetings for various reasons etc. He told us he was on $200 a week and at first donated this salary? That the MTA were looking for good staff to join. The MTS Board meet once a month but no meetings could be held the next few months due to lack of quorums by Board members.

CHAIRMAN MAHANGA UNEASY:

Mahanga felt uneasy during this meeting & had an outbreak of swearing as we fired the questions. I told him to stop it. Meantime the new rules of the constitution have not been discussed by beneficiaries nor have any beneficiaries been aware of just what those new rules pertained and entail. But then the MTA should in its capacity have Board members who can do the job and stick to the right times to hold meetings as well as keep to their obligations which they are not doing.

Mahanga explained he has no business experience apart from wananga work. At this stage Mahanga did start outlining what he had done and started to let off steam by swearing after which Moana explained this as not being appropriate and that she is an advocate at this meeting on behalf of me Tama Ruru. Steven had been asked as a friend to be the CEO as he had worked for many corporations including he said Telecom? & was being headhunted so Mahanga got him? But cannot find any CV nor any jobs he actually held down.  Tama explained the roles & duty of the CEO as head of any org and wondered why Steven was not doing his job which sort of said does Steven really understand what his role is??. Eg. Communicating with beneficiaries; minutes of the meeting; not passing the buck in emails to Mahanga who is Chairman. That Steven should know rules of the Incor Society? Tama also said what a Chairman’s job was. Mahanga said he did not know these rules and again said he would ring his legal adviser now but never did. They are both unaware due to ignorance but also due to the volatility of their already needing funds to pay for outstanding debts incurred?  or do not wish to allow minutes to be had so then the AGM must be considered as null and void and a sham. Asked why the minutes were not forthcoming--- that the AGM will roll over to the next AGM in Oct 2011 and minutes will be issued. But both Moana and Tama said this is not allowed to be. Again Mahanga said he would look into this. Now the trying question remains?? Why are these minutes not being presented?? We explained the times minutes should be handed out? What motives really are the MTA trying to hide?

Mahanga also said he was going to resign after his term to join Ngati Tama?? so we thought the seat he was in charge of was getting hot. Here has since resigned.

SUMMARY OF THE MEETING
Also explained at this meeting was the inept ability of the MTA to hold any huis properly with a lack of Chairmanship to outline the agendas to avoid disruptive meetings. This has always been the case and they do not have strong Chairman skills at all. That is why the AGM June 2011 was quick is not an excuse to not:
1/. Allow motions to be passed
2/. Not To allow General Business as no AGM for 2 years and beneficiaries need financials to be accounted for.
3/. Not have minutes for the beneficiaries? Or financials
4/. That they have already sent in the NEW rules to the society without any beneficiaries reading or understanding these rules?
5/. To allow such a meeting to occur as such? Lack of speaking rights
6/. No financials and no further AGM in Oct 2011 as promised?
7/. When asked by Vivienne Taueki how many people have read and fully understand the NEW RULES not one person put their hands up?
8/. The Accountant Small & Co Levin had to say they had insufficient books?
9/. I called into the office 2 times to uplift minutes no response after the AGM?. They would be presented at the next AGM November 2011. You will see I was verbally told by Mahanga October 2011.
Tama explained how vital the roles of Chairman, CEO are and how they as execs must give information to the beneficiaries. This is not being done apart from PR in the newspaper Chronicle Mahanga said yet we are all on email and yet again there is a lack of communication. Whether this will be put right is another matter. The meeting ended at 3.15pm. Monday afternoon.

WHAT WAS ACHIEVED:
1/. A background on Mahanga joining the MTA?
2/.That no minutes and financials are available and still not available?
3/. That at the next Board meeting Monday week minutes will be asked for. Tama will attend?
4/. That Mahanga is leaving after his term come up to join his Ngati Tama? When is this term expired as in the new constitution rules there is no dates for terms for any execs?
5/. That Mahanga would look into the rules of the Incor Society with his legal adviser? Lets see what will happen & if when Tama asked for minutes next Monday?? Mahanga said minutes would be given just before their next AGM set for November. Nothing ever happened.
6/. That what we wanted to know we already new?? That the MTA are hiding minutes an financials as they hold discrepancies.
7/. That the explanation for no General Business and no motions passed due to previous disruptive meetings and that they wanted to get meeting over quickly is not satisfactory to us present?
8/. That Steven lacks the Business experience & has never provided a CV for what he is doing??
9/. Mahanga when questioned & questions difficult he lost the plot & started swearing in front of my legal advisor
The following Monday at 6pm was supposed to be the MTA Board Meeting. Attended by 3 members it was cancelled due to insufficient quorum. Subsequent Board meetings again no quorums so the board has and was disfunctional.

KAUMATUA KAUNIHERA ELDERS MEETING: Never had a meeting of the Elders since June 2011 to the present day although an attempt was made on May 28th 2013 but never occurred???

There were No Kaunehira kaumatua meetings July 2011 right up to June 2012 as Kevin Hill the coordinator never set one up so kaumatuas had no say on anything. A meeting was convened after the AGM but was disrupted by Bill Taueki and brother Philip Taueki so was closed---this was a disappointment for the other kaumatua present. There are still no kaumatua meetings held to this present day so there is no elders allowed to express tikanga which is vitally important in tribal well being. Remember Fisheries money is going into the coffers for these guys to play with.