Tau weighing up chair role

Former chairman of Tuhoronuku, Sonny Tau.

Former chairman of Tuhoronuku, Sonny Tau, has been nominated for the position again but is still considering whether to accept the invitation.

Mr Tau stood aside from his position of chairman of Tuhoronuku, the body recognised as having mandate to negotiate the Ngapuhi Treaty Settlement, following allegations he hunted and took protected kukupa from the South Island.

Nominations for the position of chair and deputy chair of the body opened on Friday which saw Mr Tau, Sam Napia - the acting chairman of the group, and Hone Sadler nominated for the role.

Anaru Kaipo, Mr Tau's assistant on Te Runanga a iwi o Ngapuhi spoke to the Advocate on behalf of Mr Tau yesterday.

"He wants to be clear it was not him who put his name forward, it was a hapu kaikorero who put his name forward. He is still considering whether he will accept this invitation," Mr Kaipo said.

Mita Harris, chairman of the Northland Conservation Board resigned from his position as Ngati Toro kaikorero on Tuhoronuku following the allegations against Mr Tau. Mr Harris said whether or not Mr Tau accepted the nomination would be a decision he'd make himself.

"I mean, Sonny is old enough to know what the right thing to do is. If he accepts there will be reasons why but it's a choice he's going to have to make."

Moana Tuwhare, the current deputy chairwoman of the group, Kara George and Hone Sadler were nominated for the deputy chair position.

The nominations will be voted on at a special board meeting on September 11.

Mr Tau will appear in Invercargill District Court today facing charges of hunting/killing kukupa and possessing the protected birds.