Maori say Government wants to close wananga

The Maori Party has accused the Government of trying to shut down Te Wananga O Aotearoa.

Speaking at Northcote's Hato Petera College for the release of his party's education policy, Te Tai Tokerau candidate Hone Harawira condemned the "racist attacks of the Labour Government" against the wananga and demanded an independent review.

Mr Harawira also called for the release of an Auditor-General's report into the institution begun last September concerning potential conflicts of interest over the wananga's Kiwi Ora programme.

The inquiry was extended in February after further allegations of misuse of funds and claims that relatives of executives had benefited from wananga practices.

Mr Harawira accused the Government and Education Minister Trevor Mallard of withholding the report to avoid political embarrassment before the election. But a spokeswoman for Mr Mallard said the minister had not seen the report and had no authority over its release.

Act MP Ken Shirley, who made accusations against the wananga in February, said he had not seen the report but was aware of some of its detail. His understanding was that what the wananga had done was wrong, it was out of control, and "yes, it upheld the culture of extravagance and waste".