Marae venue cancelled - Whakatohea Pre-settlement Claims Trust not wanted at Opape.

"The government-backed trust's advertised marae venue for their AGM remains cancelled despite attempted interference," said Ngai Tamahaua Hapu Chair Peter T Selwyn.

Opape Marae Chairman Hetaraka Biddle said "no paperwork for the booking was provided and no motion was moved or resolved at our trustees hui held yesterday (28/03/2019) and so the cancellation was not reversed." It was unclear whether a booking had even been taken in writing. "The Hapu opposes the WPSCT and have not invited them to the marae. The Hapu hui has determined the marae cannot be used by them. That decides the matter - that is our tikanga," said Mr Biddle.

Mr Biddle considered it was unhelpful to have trustees who have taken up paid roles in the WPSCT interfering in the process of bookings and claiming they are confirmed when they were not. "This has led to confusion and caused division," Mr Biddle said.

"The 22 March 2019 joint statement of the Hapu and Marae Chairs cancelling the WPSCT booking stands. It is unwise for that group to attempt to proceed with any hui at Opape Marae. We have had no acknowledgement from the WPSCT of our communications. They are unprofessional in the extreme and disingenuous in their claim they want to engage with Hapu," said Mr Selwyn, "the cynical abuse of our marae cannot be permitted and they should be ashamed of their tactics."

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