Tuhoronuku Integrity Compromised

Te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapu Ngapuhi says the integrity of Tuhoronuku’s representation and processes have once again been shown to be severely compromised.

Radio New Zealand today reported allegations of vote tampering by Ngapuhi leader Raniera (Sonny) Tau who allegedly accessed Te Runanga A Iwi O Ngapuhi’s database and extracted information relating to potential voters in the hapu elections. Allegations of election engineering by Tuhoronuku are not new and the issue was raised by Mr Tukoroirangi Morgan when he was asked by the Crown to assist Ngapuhi in finding a pathway to settlement.

Mr Tau last month pleaded guilty to possession of five dead Kukupa/Kereru.

Also reported in the media today are revelations that the Whangarei ki Mangakahia trustee on Tuhoronuku, Mr Tame Te Rangi, has a historic fraud conviction for which he was imprisoned.

Co-chair of Te Kotahitanga Rudy Taylor says that it has been made abundantly clear on countless occasions that the integrity of leadership must be upheld at all times.

“The Tuhoronuku structure and processes are flawed as there are no rules forcing Tuhoronuku members to disclose past convictions and without police vetting how can the people have confidence in those who seek to lead.

“Leaders must have a minimum code of behavior.

“Just days out from the release of the Waitangi Tribunal urgent hearing report into the Ngapuhi mandate the government needs to genuinely listen to the voice of the hapu instead of trying to bulldoze over the top of them to achieve their political aims.

“There are now too many infections in the Tuhoronuku structure and it must be abandoned immediately.

“Te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapu Ngapuhi has no confidence in Tuhoronuku and its flawed mandate and these recent examples are more evidence of our concerns which the government and the minister have constantly ignored.”

ENDS

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