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The Waitangi National Trust has lashed out at Government criticisms of its fees and management, questioning why Helen Clark is raising concerns publicly instead of attending trust meetings and raising them there.
The Prime Minister and the Ministers of Conservation and Maori Affairs are all ministerial members of the private trust, which the Government is reviewing and might take control of.
The trust remained tight-lipped over the issue until yesterday, when the Government ramped up concerns about the $12 entry fee charged for the Treaty Grounds and other governance issues.
The trust, worried it will lose control of the site, responded with a lengthy press release, saying it was "utterly amazed" by the criticisms of Labour Northland list MP Shane Jones, who launched the Government offensive.
Mr Jones said it was "shocking" people had to pay to visit the site and criticised trust chairman Jeremy Williams for taking an "injudicious" and "petty" stance.
Mr Jones also said there were governance problems with the trust.
Helen Clark backed Mr Jones yesterday, saying: "Fundamentally I would like to see people able to enter what, in effect, is the birthplace of our nation without a fee."
Asked if she was happy with the trust's administration, she said: "Well, there have been some issues and those can be looked at over time and those can be looked at in a review."
Mr Williams said the trust's board and its management had, over recent years, received several accolades.
"The achievement of the highest, government-backed and independently assessed Qualmark award evidences the standards achieved at the Treaty Grounds, and the winning of multiple business awards also underlines the integrity of the board's governance and management practices," he said.
"In my time as deputy chair and now chair I have had only one consistent problem with governance and that has been the non-appearance of the three ex-officio ministerial members, namely the Prime Minister, the Minister of Conservation and the Minister of Maori Affairs.
"It is interesting that the Government is now taking such an active role in commenting on board performance when the opportunity has existed for them to contribute around the board table."
The trust had approached the Government for funding to upgrade site facilities four years ago, but with no success, he said.
"When it has come to sponsorships or financial partnerships, I have to say that constructive outcomes have been less forthcoming from Government discussions than from those with the private sector."
Mr Jones said yesterday many Northlanders had approached him with concerns about the entry fee, which some had trouble paying.
He said he would "hate to see our people elbowed aside by rich American tourists".
Mr Williams said only 25 per cent of visitors to the site were New Zealanders. The trust hoped to ensure that New Zealanders would not have to pay an entry fee within about eight years.
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage had already suggested the trust might be placed under the management of the Historic Places Trust or the Conservation Department, but the board was firmly opposed.
Mr Williams said he could see why it seemed an anomaly to people that an entry fee was charged on a site former Governor-General Lord Bledisloe set aside for the people of New Zealand in 1937.
However, Lord Bledisloe had donated the land to the trust with an agreement that it would be run independently of government and that taxpayers would not have to pay for its maintenance. A fee had always been charged.
It seemed appropriate to maintain the tradition and there was widespread support for the status quo.
Kingi Taurua, who said he was a spokesman for Bay of Islands hapu Ngati Kawa, said yesterday no decisions should be made about the site's future until the group's Treaty claim to the grounds was addressed.
Mr Taurua said he did not believe people should be charged and also criticised the trust structure, which gave iwi from other areas a say over what happened in Ngapuhi territory.
Influential Tuwharetoa paramount chief Tumu te Heuheu is a member of the board and Mr Taurua said "he should go home where he belongs".
Helen Clark declined to comment on Mr Williams' criticisms last night.
Waitangi National Trust
The trust administers the Waitangi Treaty House and grounds, part of the 506ha Waitangi National Trust estate, presented to the nation by Lord and Lady Bledisloe in 1932. The trust does not receive Government money. Members:
* Prime Minister Helen Clark, Minister of Conservation Chris Carter, Minister of Maori Affairs Parekura Horomia (ex officio).
* Jeremy Williams, descendant of the late Archdeacon Henry Williams.
* Pita Paraone, representing descendants of Hone Heke, Maihi Kawiti, Tamiti Waka Nene or Pomare families.
* John Klaricich, a representative of the Maori people living in the North Auckland peninsula.
* Tumu Te Heuheu, a representative of the Maori people living in the North Island south of Auckland.
* Eila Searles, a representative of the Bay of Islands' Pakeha residents.
* Penny Hutchins, a representative of Maori and Pakeha of the South Island.
* Ian Torlesse, a representative of the family of the late Edward Gibbon Wakefield.
* Dame Joan Metge, chosen as a person prominent in the life of the country as a statesman, historian, archaeologist, natural historian, or otherwise.
* David Jefferd, Waitangi National Trust Board Amendment Act 1959 representative of late James Busby.
Treaty Grounds tour costs:
* A self-guided discovery tour $12 per adult, children free.
* Guided tours $22 per adult includes admission, $5 per child.
