King fills vacancy at tribal meetings

King Tuheitia. Photo / Greg Bowker

King Tuheitia is attending high level tribal board meetings in the absence of a personal representative at a time when Waikato Tainui is working through tough internal politics.

The tribe's constitution says the paramount chief can appoint a representative to Te Arataura, the tribe's executive board, otherwise made up of elected members.

Tuheitia's representative, Lady Raiha Mahuta, died last month, and a decision hasn't been made on a replacement, who is known as the kaahui ariki (royal family) representative.

Board members, who did not want to be named, said they did not view the king's attendance at meetings as a long term answer to the vacancy.

One said the king had not directly advised that he would be taking the kaahui ariki position. The 10 members understood it was an "interim call".

Asked if Tuheitia had any decision-making power, the source said the King "has the right to address the board. He has not, as an individual, participated in decision-making."

Another said the board had encouraged the king to attend meetings, as his mother Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu had.

"There's no vote, no nothing. If he prefers to give an opinion he gives an opinion. He arrives but he doesn't stay for the whole meeting. It's a chance to educate our young king."

Tainui leader Tom Roa resigned as the tribe's parliamentary chairman this year after Tuheitia criticised its performance. Mr Roa said there was no need to rush to appoint a replacement.

"I guess he's weighing the options and one of the options is to bide his time on who he appoints. I don't know that there should be any rush. It's something he should take his time over."

However, the tribe had established the kaahui ariki position to give Kingitanga leaders a say in tribal politics but remove them from risk.

"Should legal questions arise then the king is protected by the fact that the representative is there," he said.

"As I understand the constitution there's a separation from the monarch from the [tribe's] business."