Ngapuhi elders keep faith with Tau despite pressure

PROTECTED: The native wood pigeon (kukupa/kereru), protected by law and kaitiakitanga.

Close to 100 Ngapuhi kaumatua and kuia, who met in Kaikohe on Friday, did not accept Raniera (Sonny) Tau's offer to resign as chairman of Te Runanga-a-Iwi o Ngapuhi.

Mr Tau had earlier resigned as chairman of the iwi's mandated treaty settlement authority Tuhoronuku, and has been under pressure from some quarters to stand down from the runanga as well, following last month's revelations that he had been found in possession of five dead kukupa in Invercargill.

Last week he was formally charged with killing and possessing the birds.

Mr Tau told Friday's hui, believed to be the largest gathering of Ngapuhi elders in recent times, that he would step aside as chairman of Te Runanga-a-Iwi o Ngapuhi if that was the wish of his elders. The hui, called with just one day's notice, hours after the charges were laid, ended with all present giving their full support to Mr Tau continuing in the role however. They also commended the runanga board on its stance in supporting the chairman.

Nau Epiha and Nora Rameka said the kaumatua and kuia acknowledged the strong leadership Mr Tau had given Ngapuhi over the 15 years he had led the runanga, but reminded him there was still much work to be done for their people, and urged him to focus on that.

Sacred obligationTe Kotahitanga o Nga Hapu o Ngapuhi co-chairman Rudy Taylor said last week that Mr Tau should resign immediately from all positions of responsibility after being charged with hunting and possessing kereru (kukupa).

"The concept of kaitiakitanga is a sacred obligation to protect our taonga, and Sonny Tau has failed as a guardian," he said.

"His ability to serve as chairman of the Ngapuhi runanga, a trustee on the Tuhoronuku board, the Iwi Leaders' Forum, the Whanau Ora partnership group, Te Ohu Kaimoana and all other roles must now be called into question. These are positions that require a high degree of responsibility, sound judgement skills and trust, and the kereru incident clearly casts a shadow over Sonny Tau.

"His alleged actions have brought embarrassment and shame not only to himself but all of Ngapuhi. Sonny Tau must publicly apologise for the insult he's caused to Ngai Tahu and the whole of Ngapuhi."

The Department of Conservation laid charges of hunting/killing a protected species against Mr Tau in the Invercargill District Court, under the Wildlife Act, last week. Mr Tau has been summoned to appear in the court on July 24.

The maximum penalties on both counts are a fine of $100,000 and/or two years' imprisonment.