League branch wants Tamaki ban

Hannah Tamaki. Photo / Supplied

An Auckland Maori Women's Welfare League branch is calling for Hannah Tamaki's expulsion from the league as the Destiny Church co-founder waits to hear whether her presidential bid has been successful.

Votes closed on Friday for the eight-way race that included Mrs Tamaki after she won a High Court order.

Results will be known at the league's national conference this weekend.

However, the Herald understands the league's general manager, Jacqui Te Kani, has contacted Ms Tamaki, two other Destiny aligned members and acting president Mere Austin to inform them they are under inquiry regarding various misconduct allegations made by Manurewa branch Nga Wahine Atawhai o Matukutureia.

According to leaked documents, branch president Moana Houia-Poka wrote to the league's national executive angry at the way 10 Destiny branches - disqualified from voting by the High Court - were set up by Mrs Tamaki.

Those branches had the potential to deliver a significant voting block to Mrs Tamaki.

A letter signed on behalf of the branch by Ms Houia-Poka said the branch had moved a no- confidence motion in Mrs Tamaki.

"The deliberate 'rigging' must be viewed with contempt and censured by lifetime disqualification from membership of the Maori Women's Welfare League."

Ms Austin, who was the national vice-president before the recent death of president Megan Joe, also comes in for criticism as the league's area representative for Tamaki Makaurau when Destiny established its three original branches between 2005 and 2009.

"Her inaction has placed the MWWL at risk of being taken over by a sectarian masse that brings into question her loyalty and commitment to the league's constitution and aims and objectives of the organisation."

Ms Houia-Poka's letter said that Ms Austin had ample opportunity to alert league leaders "to the apparent risk so appropriate strategies and counter-actions to contain the tsunami could be developed and implemented, there-by avoiding the public negative scrutiny under which the league has recently traversed".

The branch said given Ms Austin's long service and life membership, a censure of ineligibility to hold national or regional positions for five years was an appropriate punishment.

Ms Tamaki declined to comment and Ms Austin could not be contacted.

Mrs Te Kani also declined to comment.