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Ngapuhi claim settlement negotiating body Tuhoronuku has confirmed it has rolled its chair Sonny Tau.
The board called an extraordinary meeting last night to discuss Mr Tau's admission he had been questioned by Department of Conservation officers after being found with five dead kereru at Invercargill airport.
In what seems indicative of confusion in the organisation, it took until mid-afternoon for a media release to emerge confirming Mr Tau's deputy Sam Napia had been appointed acting chair, with lawyer Moana Tuwhare taking the number two spot.
Mr Napia manages Thames Coromandel District Council's governance, planning and strategy group and also chairs Skills Active Aotearoa, the industry training organisation for the recreation, sport and fitness industries.
Mr Tau remains a trustee on the 22-strong board.
The board says the decision was made in the interests of Ngapuhi, to prevent distraction, and to allow Tuhoronuku to focus fully on settlement negotiations with the Crown.
Mr Napia says the Ngapuhi settlement timetable remains on track.
Tuhoronuku is currently holding a new round of elections to replace hapu kaikorero who have resigned or fill spots where hapu have boycotted the process.
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