With all of the phone calls, emails and lobbying done – the meeting started with the issue of electing a chairperson and the deputy to lead the board.
In preparation Runanga chief executive Enid Ratahi-Pryor said
she had sought legal advice around the election of the chairman because there
was no clear process.
Mrs Ratahi-Pryor highlighted three sections of the
organisation’s charter including 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1. She said the board could
choose between two methods of voting – either by show of hands or secret ballot
and that there was the option to close the meeting if it got too unruly.
“As we go through this and we are looking for guidance in this
we will do it by majority.”
Even though the sections highlighted by Mrs Ratahi-Pryor did
not correspond with the charter because she was quoting from the second schedule, the board continued and elected to use the
secret ballot method.
In the end, Ngati Pukeko representative Joe Mason edged out
the incumbent chairman, Te Kei Merito from Ngati Rangataua, 11 votes to 10. Te
Tawera representative Pouroto Ngaropo retained the deputy spot with 13 votes
against 7 votes for Materoa Dodd from Ngati Wharepaia
Obviously there was a lot of interest in the vote with a
large number of observers in the board room at the TRONA office in Louvain Street
and a post on Facebook announcing the result before the meeting was even over.However I was saddened that there was more emphasis placed on the vote rather than on the actual business.
A request from the Ngati Awa Training Organisation (NATO), a private training establishment, for financial support from the Runanga was almost glossed over despite the operating trust owing at least $600,000 to two parties.
The situation was raised by chief executive during her
report to the board.
Mrs Ratahi-Pryor said she had met with NATO because it was
in financial trouble and the ASB bank was threatening to foreclose on the organisation.
“As a result of
contract losses the trust as lost its capacity and capability to get out of
this situation. A debt of $50,000 is outstanding with the ASB Bank. The trust
is not able to clear this debt, nor is it able to trade out of debt due to
expenses exceeding its income…. A cash injection to maintain a Ngati Awa training
provider and its status would require $600,000 in addition to a restructure of
its governance and management.”
It is understood the ASB Bank has requested payment of
$50,000 to cover the outstanding debt or it will foreclose on the organisation
and more than $500,000 is owed to the Inland Revenue Department in unpaid taxes.
Mrs Ratahi-Pryor said the NATO trustees had all “scarpered”
and that even though the Runanga did not own the organisation anymore, it was
up to it to protect the Ngati Awa name.
“The reason it has come to the board is this was one of the
organisations set up by the Runanga. They are seen as Ngati Awa. I had a look
at their young people and their young people who go there are 80 to 90 per cent
Ngati Awa. Their staff are Ngati Awa. This is a Ngati Awa entity so we have to
take that into consideration.”
In her report Mrs Ratahi-Pryor recommended that management work
alongside the trust close down operation, the board approve $50,000 to be paid
to the bank on behalf of NATO and the Runanga to take back control of the
organisation as well as its delivery status once all trustees have been removed
and programmes closed.
It was also recommended that the board note that this is the
second time the Runanga has assisted the trust.
The board voted to close down the organisation and approach
the bank about writing off the debt even though Ngai Tamapare representative
Paul Quinn had objected saying he felt as though there wasn’t enough
information to make a decision.
It was not outlined how or why the debt was incurred nor was
the outstanding debt with IRD discussed.Mr Quinn and Dayle Hunia, who represents Ngati Hokopu ki Wairaka, were the only members that voted against the motion.
I support Mr Quinn’s stance and think the NATO situation
should have been a separate report in itself and would have expected
representatives to request more information before committing to a decision.
Additionally the Hapu Report section, which is the time at
the end of the meeting where the representatives can usually discuss the issues that are
affecting their hapu, had been removed from the agenda.
“The previous chairman [Te Kei Merito] requested that no
hapu reports be given. I don’t know why that is,” said Mrs Ratahi-Pryor .
I was tremendously disappointed by this.
Frustrated by a lack of control over our own destiny we, at
Ngati Hokopu ki Wairaka, have spent the last year designing a strategic vision.
Aimed at protecting and enhancing the well-being of the hapu the vision has been
set and has been encapsulated by the saying: Tu Mai Ngati Hokopu. But this is
only the beginning of our journey and we are keen to make a move on the next
stage
However in order to do some of the work set out in the
vision we need support letters from the Runanga and it was hoped that we would
be able to make a presentation during Hapu Report time at the board meeting. And I am sure we are not the only hapu who wanted time to discuss our take. Maanu Paul from Ngati Hokopu ki Hokowhitu and Nga Maihi’s Gina O’brien handed in written reports, requesting they be added to the record because the Hapu Report time had been erased.
So despite an overwhelming change to the board with 11
changes, I am left to think that the Runanga is still operating much how it
always has.
However, while the unpopular bimonthly meeting policy still
stands another meeting has been set for next month because the board did not
have time to elect the committees and I am hopeful that the new members will
begin to show their teeth.