This is Part Two of our three-part investigation: Innocence – Manurewa Marae. Part One gave you the verdict – ‘cleared’. Here we trace back to the whakapae – the allegations. Who made them, how pāpāho ran them, and why they collapsed. Part Three will show the pattern – the Crown’s playbook, rolled out again and again against Māori kaupapa.
The Allegations and the Findings
Allegation 1: Marae kaimahi photocopied 1,400 census forms.
Finding: Police + Stats NZ; “insufficient evidence.” No proof. No charges.
Allegation 2: Census forms left in open envelopes, on trays.
Finding: Stats NZ; some mishandling, yes. But nothing tied to politics.
Allegation 3: Data stored in WOCA (Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency) database, used for politics.
Finding: SFO; “No grounds for serious fraud.” No corruption link.
Allegation 4: Kai packs, vouchers offered as inducements to shift to the Māori roll.
Finding: Police; “No evidence of corrupt practice.”
Allegation 5: Covid vaccination data misused to target voters.
Finding: Privacy Commissioner; still checking protocols, standard review. No sign of criminal misuse.
Allegation 6: Data flowed to Te Whānau o Waipareira, then Te Pāti Māori campaign.
Finding: Police + SFO; “insufficient evidence.”
How it Played Out
The pāpāho Pākehā jumped quick.
– RNZ: “Claims of Census data misuse by Manurewa Marae probed by Stats NZ” (4 June 2024).
– RNZ: “Privacy Commissioner seeks more detail on possible census data breach at marae” (6 June 2024).
– RNZ: “Nine agency bosses meet over Te Pāti Māori data allegations” (7 June 2024).
– 1News: “Govt agencies called together over Te Pāti Māori data allegations” (7 June 2024).
– RNZ: “Public Service Commission to conduct inquiry after Te Pāti Māori data allegations” (10 June 2024).
Andrea Vance, *Sunday Star-Times*, broke it first. Front page, 2 June.
Headlines made guilt sound like fact. Whistleblowers, hailed as heroes. The marae – painted criminal. And who were they? Six ex-staff, one MSD worker. Allan Halse out front. Destiny Church links in the mix. Old beefs. One tried to roll the marae board. None of that hit the headlines.
Guilty by Whakapapa
This was never just about census forms. It was a whakawā – a trial. Of whakapapa.
Because Manurewa Marae is Māori. Political. Serving whānau. That made it a target.
Not guilty by evidence – guilty by whakapapa.
That’s the Crown pattern:
– If Māori organize – scheming.
– If Māori mobilise – corrupt.
– If Māori succeed – cheating.
Did they check Remuera? No. Rotary in Masterton? No.
They came for Southside. Because we dared to lead.
The Silence After
Sixteen months. Police. SFO. PSC. Stats NZ. Millions spent.
And at the end? “Insufficient evidence.”
But listen to the kupu. Not “false.” Not “fabricated.” Just “can’t prove it.”
That leaves suspicion. Keeps embers alive.
Inside whare though – mana holds. Whakapapa carries. Kaupapa rolls on.
And Tarsh Kemp, he wāhine toa, he rangatira. Her mana never touched. The Crown failed. She didn’t.
Tail-Out
So here’s the kōrero: Manurewa Marae is innocent. Cleared. Vindicated. Every whakapae collapsed.
Part One gave the verdict: vindicated. Part Two laid out the accusations: baseless. Next, Part Three – the pattern. Same playbook. Different kaupapa. Always Māori in the dock. Always us rising.
Innocent. Vindicated. Unapologetic.
So the pātai is this: When the Crown clears us but pāpāho Pākehā remain largely silent – isn’t it time we tell our own truth, loud and unapologetic?
Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official position of Waatea News, its staff, or management. Waatea News provides a platform for Māori voices, diverse perspectives, and debate. The views expressed here are those of the author.
Whakakāhoretanga: Ko ngā whakaaro, ko ngā tirohanga, ko ngā whakapuaki i roto i tēnei tuhinga nō te kaituhi anake. Ehara i te mea e tohu ana i te tūranga mana o Waatea News, ōna kaimahi, ōna kaiwhakahaere rānei. He pae papaho a Waatea News mō ngā reo Māori, ngā tirohanga huhua, me te whakawhiti whakaaro. Nā te kaituhi anake ngā kōrero kua whakaaturia i konei.
