June 25, 2013
Wānanga board slammed for poor process
Supporters of outgoing Te Wānanga ō Aotearoa Chief executive Bentham Ohia have asked the Māori Affairs Select Committee to investigate the wānanga’s board.
Lawyer Willie Te Aho says the board which refused to renew Mr Ohia’s contract was not properly formed.
He says an academic representative was forced to resign and replaced with the next highest-polling candidate, rather than a new election being held.
Mr Te Aho says an investigation is needed to ensure the largest Māori tertiary institution is being properly governed.
"As long as everybody concerned has the opportunity to express their view, the Māori affairs committee hear the issues, they make a report, they say whether or not the actions over the past two years have been inside or outside the Education Act, and then that is put on the table for everyone to see and to ensure that this type of decision-making we allege (happened) don't occur going forward," he says.
Mr Te Aho is also working on Mr Ohia’s personal grievance against the wānanga board.
Mr Ohia has been replaced by former Māori Television boss Jim Mather.
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