Ngai Tahu leader faces revolt over testy emails

Mark Solomon. Photo / Simon Baker

Ngai Tahu leader Mark Solomon is teetering on the edge of a revolt as his own runanga starts looking for a new representative.

Documents obtained by the Herald show a serious breakdown in communication between Mr Solomon and Thomas Kahu, chairman of the Kaikoura runanga, which Mr Solomon represents at the tribal governing body Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu (Tront).

Kaikoura kaumatua Martin Solomon has sent a letter to the wider Ngai Tahu community outlining the situation and his disappointment with iwi leadership. He singles out his nephew Mark, who is also the tribe's kaiwhakahaere (chairman).

While he doesn't mention ousted Ngai Tahu Holding Corporations chairman Wally Stone, Tront has been under scrutiny over the issue for the past week.

"Our ... table has been divided for the last three years. The events of the past week are the last straw and I call for our representative on Tront to resign. We believe it is time for change, and we will put forward a more appropriate delegate in the coming weeks."

The kaumatua also cited concern with language Mr Solomon used in an email to Mr Kahu, another nephew, when answering questions about Mr Stone's dismissal. The Herald has obtained copies of that email also.

In an early exchange Mark Solomon asks Mr Kahu to resign because he was interviewed by the media. Mr Kahu says he has no intention of doing so.

In a subsequent email Mark Solomon calls Mr Kahu "an incompetent fool who rushed to defend Stone before engaging his brain".

That saddened Martin Solomon.

"The tone of this email is totally unacceptable. It falls well short of how we speak to each other as whanau, and if this is the leadership style supported and exercised by tront members, then we as a people are in serious trouble."

If Kaikoura decides it does not want Mark Solomon as its representative it could be the end of his days as the face of Ngai Tahu leadership.

But it's an issue many do not want to talk about openly.

Mr Kahu did not return phone calls and a spokesperson for Mark Solomon said he would not comment. The Herald was unable to contact Martin Solomon.

Meanwhile, fallout from Mr Stone's removal continued at the weekend on another front with the deputy kaiwhakahaere Donald Couch losing the support of his Rapaki runanga on Sunday at Rapaki Marae - a Stone whanau stronghold.

In an ironic twist the Herald understands it was Mr Couch who called the motion to remove Mr Stone, a week before he himself was sacked.

Mr Couch could not be reached for comment as he is overseas.