Solomon’s Ngai Tahu reign over
A major South Island Maori leader is vacating his post.
As signalled in April, Sir Mark Solomon will step down as kaiwhakahaere (chairman) of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu after losing his position as the representative of his Kaikoura runanga.
Under its constitution, Ngai Tahu is divided into 18 runanga who each appoint a representative to the tribe’s council or board. The kaiwhakahaere can only be selected from the representatives and Kaikoura appointed Darren KereiKeepa as its representative at a hui on the weekend.
Kerei-Keepa is the former chairman of Mangamaunu Marae and is an amateur thespian.
That ends Solomon’s 18-year term as kaiwhakahaere, an impressive run when the factionalism and infighting of Maori politics are considered.
The loss of his Kaikoura stronghold was the beginning of the end for Solomon. As runanga chairman, he tried to run the main Kaikoura marae Takahanga in a more businesslike way which put him offside with many of his whanau. They also objected to some of the staff Solomon helped appoint to the marae. Once he lost his chairmanship of the runanga, his position as kaiwhakahaere was undermined.
He leaves behind a divided board that has recently welcomed five new representatives whose allegiances and abilities are still uncertain.
Attention is now turning to Solomon’s successor. The deputy kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai, who represents the West Coast runanga of Ngati Waewae, will take over in the meantime but her appointment is not wholly supported by some on the board.
Ngai Tahu has spent at least $200,000 this year on an investigation into leaks from the organisation. Solomon leaves still concerned about what he regards as a lack of transparency about spending and benefits within the Ngai Tahu bureaucracy and the board.
Some of the documents leaked earlier this year show him at loggerheads with the Ngai Tahu chief executive Arihia Bennett, whom he accused of not keeping him properly informed. He said he was worried nepotism and corruption could be creeping into the Ngai Tahu administration.
Bennett responded with a stiff rejection of his concerns.
Solomon did not respond to questions but has previously said he would vacate his position as soon as a new Kaikoura representative was appointed. He did not stand for the position.
Solomon has been appointed Canterbury District Health Board deputy chairman and continues to hold a host of other director positions including board member of Te Ohu Kai Moana, the Maori Fisheries Trust.