Troubleshooter tipped for wananga

The Government is set to seal the fate of the election year embarrassment that is Te Wananga o Aotearoa this week.

Government sources expect Education Minister Trevor Mallard to restructure the tertiary institute out of all recognition, and prepare to sack its governing council.

Troubleshoooter Wira Gardiner is believed to have been approached to step in as commissioner, although that will not be confirmed until after consultation with the wananga.

But one source said the wananga's ownership body, the Aotearoa Institute, was preparing to take legal action against the Government if it put in a commissioner.

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia is understood to be fighting a rearguard action to protect someof the wananga's independence and integrity.

He said ministers were in discussions about the wananga's future. "There are benefits that have accrued over the years out of the wananga - not just Aotearoa but all the wananga - but there certainly are things that need to be looked at."

Mr Horomia said his priorities were protecting the quality of education provided, and the wananga's independence. The wananga will not be closed down entirely.

The Government is bailing it out with a $20 million loan to avert insolvency, and it still hasup to 30,000 students who mightnot otherwise get a tertiaryeducation.

Mr Horomia's defence of the wananga coincides with the Labour Maori caucus' fight against Government plans to provide walking access along waterways on rural land, including protected Maori land.

Labour's Maori MPs are facing a fraught battle against the Maori Party in the coming election, made harder by the Government's refusal to relinquish any ground to National by being seen as going soft on Maori.

The Auditor General is investigating the wananga's spending of $239 million of public funds last year on everything from alleged contracts for family members to a fleet of cars.

Wira Gardiner has the trust of both Cabinet and the Maori caucus - despite being a long-time National Party stalwart.

The Government has already parachuted Mr Gardiner on to the wananga council, after previously appointing him to the Waitangi Fisheries Commission and to clean up Maori broadcasting agency Te Mangai Paho. He has been national director of Civil Defence, a chief executive of the Ministry of Maori Development and founding director of the Waitangi Tribunal.

Mr Mallard is expected to seal the wananga's fate this week.

"I have received advice on financial viability issues and governance issues with regard to the wananga, and my decision is imminent,"he said.

Act MP Ken Shirley said he had supported putting in a commissioner from day one, but was concerned the Government might end up taking over the wananga's running without dealing with its problems.

He pointed to "phantom enrolments" and "spurious courses" that were being funded from thepublic purse.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY