Divided tribe may elect new chairman

Mark Solomon

The board of Ngai Tahu, the country's richest iwi, looks set to hold fresh elections for the tribe's top job after half the executive vowed to oppose reappointed chairman Mark Solomon.

The Herald understands that nine of the 18 directors have vowed to protest against Mr Solomon's continuing in the role by opposing any actions he calls for.

An iwi source described the board, which represents Ngai Tahu's more than 37,000 members, as dysfunctional and warned that no progress would be made unless Mr Solomon was replaced.

Mr Solomon retained his position after a vote on May 27 gave him and his opponent, Te Maire Tau, nine votes each.

A second vote on the same day repeated the result, allowing Mr Solomon, as incumbent, to keep the job, understood to be worth around $140,000 a year.

A tribal source said animosity towards Mr Solomon by his nine opponents had reached crisis point.

The division prompted unanimous support for a motion the day after the vote to make the appointment for one month only.

A further meeting of the board, Te Rununga o Ngai Tahu, is scheduled for June 17 and 18 to "resolve the issue of unity and leadership".

The source described the election as acrimonious, destroying any chance of resolving issues between Mr Solomon and his nine opponents on the board.

"We are not prepared to carry on like this. It will be over my dead body before we support him or any motions he tries to push through.

"This board is dysfunctional and will remain so while he [Mr Solomon] remains in the chair."

Mr Solomon has been accused of failing to control meetings and of not bringing the tribe's financial arm, Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation, under tighter control.

Ngai Tahu is the South Island's largest iwi. It has assets of more than $500 million and a beneficiary base of around 37,000.

The source said Mr Solomon's resignation and the election of a member acceptable to both sides was the only way forward.

Two candidates are understood to be emerging as likely replacements: Mr Tau and deputy chairman Donald Couch.