August 14, 2013
Moana-Tuwhangai new Tainui chair
After months of wrangling, Waikato-Tainui’s Te Kauhanganui parliament has voted in a new chair.
She is Maxine Moana-Tuwhangai, a representative for Mokai Kainga Marae and a past member of Te Arataura, the tribal executive.
The position has been vacant for nine months after the previous holder Tania Martin was voted out for bringing the institution into disrepute.
The wounds of that clash have still not healed, and the weekend’s hui turned down a motion that an apology and compensation be made to Mrs Martin.
Ms Moana-Tuwhangai, who also chairs the Proprietors of Taharoa C Block and is a trustee of the correspondence School Te Aho ō te Kura Pounamu, acknowledged Mrs Martin’s leadership during her term in office.
The vacant position on Te Arataura went to Edward Hoki-Mai Chong from Reretēwhioi Marae, who is currently the chief Advisor to Te Puni Kokiri chief executive Michelle Hippolite.
Te Arataura chair Tom Roa was appointed negotiator for Waikato-Tainui’s outstanding claims.
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