Tamihere's election 'illegal'

John Tamihere says moves to block him could lead to fireworks. Picture / Kenny Rodger

John Tamihere's election to the Waipareira Trust board is illegal and does not stand, says a staunch opponent, board treasurer Ricky Houghton

Mr Tamihere was among seven new members elected to the board after a seven-hour annual meeting on Wednesday night.

The outspoken former Labour MP successfully swayed the more than 200 whanau members at the meeting to vote against earlier board moves restricting board numbers to 10, down from 15, and excluding candidates who had brought the trust into disrepute.

Mr Houghton said legal advice had confirmed his contention that whanau members had no authority to over-ride board-backed constitutional amendments.

"What you saw last night was a team of people who John had bought along to move away from the constitution - it was unlawful and illegal."

He said the board had met yesterday to consider legal advice and decided the amendments were illegal.

"Only the board has the authority to amend and alter the constitution. The whanau have the authorities to elect the trustees. We want 10 members - it's our right. If they [whanau members] want to challenge that they need to get a legal opinion because we have."

Mr Houghton said seven members might have been elected at the meeting, but just two would be appointed, a decision made by existing board members.

This could mean that two of the old board who were forced to stand down as per the constitution and seek re-election would be reappointed.

"Once the board has that information, they will decide on who will be on the board. It may not include John."

Mr Tamihere said the board's actions were a slap in the face for whanau members who had demanded change at the meeting.

"The chairperson and the deputy chairperson agreed to accept the will of the people. They can't change their mind now.

"They may have legal advice, but it is not the Maori way or the whanau way."

He said any moves to block him from joining the board would lead to fireworks.

"I have been appointed by the [annual meeting]. I've sold one house to scrap them. If I have to sell another one I'll do it."

WAIPAREIRA TRUST

West Auckland Maori Urban Authority

* Established in 1984 to provide training to West Auckland's booming Maori population.

* Employs about 200 staff at 10 West and South Auckland properties.

* Services include health, training and youth support.

* Controls assets of more than $12 million, with the bulk of its funding from about $7 million in Government contracts.

JOHN TAMIHERE'S LINKS

* Employed as chief executive 1991-1999, a period that saw the trust grow from an organisation worth about $1 million to a multi-service entity with more than $12 million in assets.

* 1999: Mr Tamihere resigns to enter Parliament.

* July 2004: Mr Tamihere attacks trust management and board, accusing it of financial mismanagement.

* July 2004: Audit of trust called based on Mr Tamihere's allegations. Terms of reference extended to include his time as chief executive.

* October 2004: Mr Tamihere is stood down from the Cabinet after it is revealed he was paid an untaxed $195,000 "golden handshake" upon leaving the trust, a payment he then denied.

* November 2004: Mr Tamihere resigns his portfolios after a Serious Fraud Office investigation is launched into his time as trust chief executive, based on the audit and an independent investigation run by the trust.

* Although later cleared of any wrong, he is not returned to the Cabinet.

* September 2005: Mr Tamihere loses Tamaki Makaurau electorate to Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples.