Changing of guard near for Ngai Tahu
Ngai Tahu should have a new leader by Christmas.
Sir Mark Solomon told an Invercargill combined runanga meeting on Thursday he will call it quits on November 19 after an 18-year reign as Kaiwhakahaere of Ngai Tahu.
Solomon is expected to publicly release the date of his resignation next week and a Christchurch public relations firm has been called in to handle the announcement.
Solomon’s position became difficult after he lost the support of his own Kaikoura runanga earlier this year. He was dumped as chair after a vote went against him.
He remained as Kaikoura’s representative on the Ngai Tahu governance board but indicated he would have to resign as Kaiwhakahaere in the near future.
Ngai Tahu’s Kaiwhakahaere must be a runanga representative to be eligible for the role.
Sources have told The Press that Solomon was reluctant to relinquish his powerful position and explored the possibility of representing another of Ngai Tahu’s 18 runanga to which he had blood ties. He looked at replacing the incumbent representatives for Hokonui and Oraka Aparima. His name is now being linked with the Maori Party.
His support on the Ngai Tahu board was recently undermined by the departure of his stalwart supporters Tim Rochford, from the Makaawhio (West Coast) runanga, David Higgins, from Moeraki, and Ngaire Tainui, from Onuku (Akaroa).
Relations are understood to have been tense in the Ngai Tahu office after Solomon raised issues of corruption and nepotism in an incendiary email to his chief executive, Arihia Bennett, who is seen to be more aligned with deputy kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai. Tumahai represents the Ngati Waewae runanga.
Solomon recently launched an investigation into a complaint against Tumahai. The investigation is believed to have cost Ngai Tahu $80,000 and a finding the complaint had no substance.
She is Sir Mark’s most likely successor since former Ngai Tahu chief executive Tahu Potiki is waiting for a liver transplant. Solomon did not respond to messages.