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 Muaupoko Tribal Authority or MTA has a reason to get a mandate to run every claim including Wai 108. They own Wai 52 whose original claimants have all passed on. Those now running this claim have never been involved in Maori affairs in the tribe running back over 20 years with many having indirect whakapapa not direct to Maori Chiefs of the tribe of Muaupoko.

In every tribe whether its in Africa or Asia or the Pacificislands history has alway shown it is the fittest and strongest who lead their people and continue the blood lines. This then allows for the continuation of strong blood lines in a grouping and maintains the structure of a tribe just as a matriach in the elephants animal kingdom leads. Tribal is tribal---direct is paramount and in the case of the MTA who is trying to get an OTS mandate through undemocratic ways this is not right. MTA is a Social organisation for social services as its a society but lacks business experience when it comes to business concepts.

Ideally those with a proven record of business via a Crown Government Entity Management Trust Board is the norm & not as Kate Wilkinson would say will be determined on votes as she said with the Lake Horowhenua Domain Board candidate veting????

A Crown Government Entity must be formed to control the Settlement before those in the MTA run it for a few whanau only which is what is happening right now in 2013. They have no lands to administer and are already overspending with no programmes nor any business concepts in place or proposed -- so you as politicians are now aware of this in what I write.

A Crown Government Entity should not be conducted by votes which brings out incompetence and as we have seen with Ngati Tama standover tactics performed by a few for a few. It must be based on the skills of whoever for formation of a Trust Board that would oversee any settlement & onward disbursement from the Crown. Without we will see another Ngati Tama in the making where all funds were lost for the tribe as there is no vetiung of salaries or bonuses nor any mention. The sad part is there are only a hand full of qualified tribal members and even on both sides the MCC and the MTA are rought with disfunctional members who have never contributed to the well being of the tribe. This is very important should a board be setup which is why a facilitator needs to be in place and all positions veted for their work skills. eg 1/. What have they contributed to the tribe? 2/. Have they ever invested their own funds at risk? 3/. Work skills & past employment 4/. Cultural knowledge? 5/. Whakapapa etc 6/. What roles & contributions on past trusts and most of all no criminal backgrounds ?

An iwi or tribe in NZ can lose all the money they receive from the Government of NZ which is easy to fathom. We have already seen tribal settlements go into the Warriors, Casinos, no accounting etc and it still continues today. We have urban authorities run by non tribal staff; we are witnessing the Crown changing the goal posts with no grand father clauses for us Wai claimants. Wai Claims allow urban authorities and those with indirect whakapapa or geneology to start and form trusts to receive such monies from the Government.eg. TMI with the Rangitane claim & the Crown turns a blind eye. The Government must not go quickly and those miniters who acknowledge these aonomlies will be forever responsible. To aim to have direct negotiations with authorities os an easy way out to access a settlement for a few who have no practical business experience and not allow the tribe to know what is the settlement outcome. Tikanga is missing and so is honesty, integrity.?

MTA at present are able to manipulate their followers by a numbers game. Its always been the same with Maori tribes and always will. Some in the family structure receive all the jobs and those emaller entities of families miss out as their voice is never heard. 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. I refer again to the MTA AGM in 2011 June that is now leading to obtain a mandate witrh no AGM in 2012 and no accountablity questioned.

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 exactly 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. Noone else is allowed just representatives in the group which is not right as direct descendents and those like Wai 108 are left out high and dry. Those of us who can contribute are not asked---those who have whakapapa are side stepped---those who have research their own claims at their own expense are forgotten? but isn't it true the Maori will sell their land to a pakeha but not to another Maori --NO--- such is the jealousy aspect of Maoridom. So if a Maori does well he is not that well liked---this is the norm--this is reality.

I QUESTION THE GOVERNMENT MOTIVES:

Why does not the Crown care? Why do MPs sit on the fence in NZ? why is their no compromising situations? Maori children and the families suffer and who will gain nothing from the final settlement if it occurs. Why cannot the few be allowed to express their desire via the Waitangi Tribunal and be forced to use the Government platform by others for self gain WHEN TOLD 20 YEARS previous they had a right to be heard. Why does those wanting direct negotiations not talk to the other claimants for advice and guidance and worse why are kaumatua left out with no meetings at all.

This website is to exemplify the facts that those who negotiate with the crown have little experience in the business world and that the Crown needs to allow the formation of a Entity working group of hand picked business execs not based on votes but rather expertise. It also tells the Crown read these pages--- as the works will be published in the full knowledge that the emails sent to the MPs have read what is being written.

MUAUPOKO BACKGROUND

Muaupoko have always fought each other family on family that I can recall in the 50s to this day and its sad to see just what has happened after being away for some 17 years overseas. Nothing has changed. Trusts are in the red and the largest Trusts being the Hokio A block & Hokio Maori Township on the Horowhena Block 11 are both in debt. The main Lake Horowhenua is a continuing saga of bad trustees, total corruption and inexperienced trustees. Both are in debt to the point where noone wants to know. Trustess cannot manage the affairs yet sit on the Trusts doing nothing--most have little experience in such affairs and lack skills. The MLA being the Maori Land Court presides only to find nothing is ever achieved as the Judge can never decide what to do and of course stretching these court sessions just fattens his pockets so decisions lack any substance in fact there is never a clear guide line for initiating trust which need transparency. The Judge of course is a referee and the fact he always leaves it up to the owners who must decide so no clear decisions are even adhered to. The Horowhenua Council cannot obtain rates for the properties on these blocks as the rate bills accumulate and no one wants to know. This has been going on now for 20 years and although theres an easy solution the MLC will not initiate a process and stick to it. The houses on the Hokio Maori township have no maintenance; the Council cannot cut the water off as the tenants who pay no rent won't pay for the water and the Health dept says the Council cannot turn the water off as its a health hazard. The Trust is broke or should I say really in arrears by over $280,000 as at 2013 and compounding & noone wanting to do anything. Any thoughts by any tenants to pay rent have fallen on deaf ears.

The Maori Township is down to approx 3.5 acres and what was 11 liveable baches have been reduced to 2 due to vandalism and neglect by tenants & others who thought they were eyesores yet little regard that once they are down you need resource consent to establish new ones. Not one tenant has bothered to renovate their baches; no leases are in place by the Trustees & even when asked the trustees send no replies. Yes we create our own mess as noone cares nor has pride to do the houses up but the worse part is Trustees are still voted on by whanau support and thus the wrong calibre of Trustee becomes into being. So in effect these trusts are in the RED & the status quo has never changed for some 40 years. Now the Government is saying lake Horowhenua is not private land but owned by everyone??? as at 2013--wrong it is Maori Freehold Land.

There are a few other trusts which run well most being family whanau Trusts leased out but the HokioA trust is a bad case of total inept Trust management.

ON my return to Levin I saw the same as I did 20 years earlier before I left for overseas. The same people fighting, the same agendas and not one thing put into place or remedied. It is still just the same as it was 45 years ago. On looking at those who have succeeded I see no change. The MTA before I left was not even an organisation. I had witnessed a Runanga run by one Sandra Williams who milked the system dry then it was disbanded but the accountant Fluker & Co could be credited or debited with certain anomolies?? however in saying this they can only do what is presented to them. The Police had no resources to start a fraud inquiry so it was laid to rest after Kaumatua marched to the Police to voice their concerns. With a lack of resources nothing or noone was ever prosecuted yet Williams still has a say on her hapu matters and squats in one of the Hokio A houses. She is one of the stumbling blocks in the Iwi.

However, seeing an organisation being run by a new group was a welcome sign when I returned. But this was to be short lived as they only wanted those who could not be a threat to them and experience in Business is not one of the criteria as no doubt it threatens their intelligence levels.

MUAUPOKO TRIBAL AUTHORITY TUES 18TH MAY 2010 MEETING
I met with Steve Hirini CEO regarding my absence overseas.

This is only one of a series of huis to get ideas on how to submit and who will submit and in no way will there be voting for committee members. Issues on how to progress to the Claim who will form what and who will carry on the mandate towards the claim were discussed but I did note the answers also avoided many of the main issues we are faced with. The Claim will not be heard for approx 2-3 years so that gives enough time for all claimants to come together? Of course there will be dissention etc as always but I have laid my taki to the MTA that Wai 108 want representation on any Tribunal hearing in line with our tupuna Te Rangihirinui Kemp.
   I am not sure of the setup of the MTA and who is who. Steve is affiliated to Raukawa Ngati Huia & not sure about Chairman Mahanga Williams but now understand he is Ngati Tama? Etc so think we have to move cautiously on who will get the mandate & who will represent themselves to any Crown meeting.

However as stated I am just writing findings and needed input on issues. These can and will change according to ones feelings on this matter and I fully understand this. However on telling Hirini I had accumulated research over many years and literature treasures there was no common bond in working together. This lead me to believe the MTA already had a game plan for direct negotiations with the crown utilizing certain negotiators including himself who have no understanding of tikanga Maori but of course had enough research already? But I was wrong--no research & I left this meeting not really knowing if all the claims will have any prominance apart from Wai 52 which he explained they already had---but in fact they had not as nothing was changed. In fact Wai 52 belonged and was never changed by Thompson Tukapua [deceased].? MTA in fact had no claim & is an urban authority but of course the advent of a settlement of cash was no doubt their aim..

Wai 108 was washed aside even though research on the claim in the 80s had been achieved by the author at his expense. Remember Wai 108 has the only surviving claimant from 20 years past and no other claim has this background with a survivor as the majority of claims were filed well after.

A meeting was held with the CEO Steve Hirini; yes this society even has a CEO yet they had no business in place when is was set up. Remember they are a receiver of monies--free monies from the Government, OTS, CFRT to make themselves good. The meeting went nowhere not even the opportunity to offer research material that had been achieved over many years but it was an interesting hello all the same. Interesting enough noone seems to know what Hirini was experienced at and his former work roles. It was later told to me by the Chairman at a meeting after the AGM attended my myself and legal adviser that he was being headhunted by Telecom---- but in fact this is not true as he does not possess the qualifications pertaining to such a position in telecommunications?

Well it seemed their agenda was to apply for an easy $150,000 in a letter I later received from Steve Hirini that would allow a few of them to buy cars and head to the Turnbull Library in Wellington to carry out the research I guess. This also told me they had carried out zero research on the SWai 52 claim which they never even had at this stage. Not sure if they got the money or still waiting but watch out if they do as Levin north end of town will come alive. In the meantime the research I have at hand still sits in files and CFRT will no doubt have their own researches paid to do research. Wai 52 have no research nor the resources but some of us do have these skills.

The Chairman at the time in 2010 was Mahanga Williams whose wife MAIA also worked for the MTA and actually wrote up the minutes to the AGM I was about to go to in the year June 8th 2011. It is amazing her skills were not exemplified in her minute taking? Mahanga seemed an ably chap but also avoided confrontations and questions wherever as that didn't allow for easy simple communications and his whakapapa appeared in question. Others in the organisation are Timoti Williams now changed his name to Marakopa Matakatea who has a chequered interesting history but means well. He was convicted by Judge Laing back in the eary 80s for embezzling funds and jailed yet is on the Lake Domain Board and other positions still as sacntioned by Kate Wilkinson Minister of Conservation at the time.

Marakopa Matakatea one of the main MTA spokes persons

I must say these guys are bombarded with flak from a certain family namely by the Taueki whanau and its a hell of a job to control any huis. Little respect by either party amounts to zero meetings carried out but what it does means others suffer and matters can never be amiacably passed. Its these outbursts that defy the betterment of our lands etc as noone can get on with some having private agendas. But the main point is to prevent whatever settlement lies ahead to be used by these people unsupervised and why I must lobby Government for a Govt directed Tribal Trust Board to be setup by the Government and not by whanau votes which will only see a settlement go up in smole for a few.

SO IS THERE A SOLUTION:

Of course there is? The Government and MPs need to realize the only way to avoid even further Iwi disagreements is to have those qualified to lead, those qualified in the Business world to lead the people with an emphasis on direct descendency and not indirect as is Maori tikanga--which is traditional in all its aspects. These tribal members need to veted for their business skills by facilitators: Its needs:---what they have achieved for the tribe in the past--- what they have achieved themselves on the Business front; what skills can they offer; what skills do they have?

The problems with Maori everywhere is that they are losing foresight. Social intercourse the interaction of social initiatives is always enacted then funds are wasted due to the inability to be able to stand alone & funds are wasted on salaries and ventures which pay zero dividends in return. Settlements need to be used to enhance the future of a tribe first and foremost through investment in land & property, avoiding shares and quick rich schemes which caused Ngati Tama to lose all its settlement monies & other non bearing asset ventures. But often those who rein over these settlements have alterior motives and most of the settlements involve the families of those in charge or their cousins and not the main stream of the tribe as we are seeing right now with the MTA who do not involve mainstream tribal in their affairs. It is not just in NZ--its in every country on the world that is tribal and as we have seen one tribe will identify itself against another tribe but only that tribe will look after its own and the others suffer. This is why we have tribal and ethnic wars--this is why it is a fight for survival--this is why the settlement we receive is the last handout ever [ apart from the benfit of course]??? & why NZ and Government need to wake up

The Govenment & especially the Maori MPs need to oversee dialogue, by having observers attend huis and important meetings with the idea of forming a Government elected Tribal Trust Board separate from the MTA to oversee any settlement. This is crucial as up to date some MPs like Tariana Turia only look at the MTA noone else and nothing is ever in question & I have sent email to her with zero response. Failure we will then go online to express the inept abilities of Maori MPs at assisting Maori. It also will portray that they are only interested in being an MP for self gain & vesed interests they like.

However in saying this most meetings end up in a fight or shambles & neither the MTA or the MCC claimants can work together. But in this mixture there are good tribal people who can work as a team; who are honest and not for themselves. These are what will make our tribe successful before we fall by the wayside just like Ngati Tama with monies spent on exec salaries, wasted social programmes & once gone there will be no revovery at all. At the moment MTA [ Muaupoko Tribal Authority ] has no credits---it has nothing to show for the many years & it will lose all if not controlled by those capable as in the Government MPs.