November 01, 2018
Credibility crisis in Paoa contest
DAVID ROEBECK INTERVIEW CLICK HERE
The Ngāti Paoa Trust Board says a group trying to take over its mandate to settle the tribe’s historic claims in Auckland and Hauraki needs to prove to iwi members it is looking after their assets responsibly.
A hui last week called by negotiator Morehu Wilson with the backing of the post-settlement governance entity in waiting, the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust, passed a motion of no confidence in the trust board.
But board principal officer Dave Roebeck says that Mr Morehu only had authority to update members on the progress towards settlement, and the hui was invalid for any other purpose.
He says the negotiators and the iwi trust have refused to be answerable to the board that appointed them.
"Members have been specifically asking the Iwi Trust of the PSGE for audited financial accounts. Deals that have been done with right of first refusal and such, land and properties, there has been millions and millions of dollars involved. They have not accounted for one dollar of it yet.," Mr Roebeck says.
He says even though a settlement still hasn’t been signed the Iwi Trust has also been taking over Ngāti Paoa’s responsibilities under the Resource Management Act, taking fees to sign consents for developments the trust board has opposed.
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