By KEVIN TAYLOR
Tainui godfather Sir Robert Mahuta was a fighter to the end, but his death yesterday may not halt tribal infighting.
The 61-year-old diabetic discharged himself on Wednesday from Waikato Hospital for a few hours to say goodbye to his whanau - and to ensure the tribe was looked after.
Tainui's principal negotiator, who spearheaded the tribe's $170 million Treaty of Waitangi claim, was then taken back to hospital.
Surrounded by family members, he died of peritonitis about 12.15 am yesterday.
His body was taken to Waahi Marae in Huntly for his tangi.
Whanau spokeswoman Maria Bradshaw said Sir Robert left hospital to ensure the tribe was properly looked after and kept to the blueprint mandated by the Tainui people in the 1995 treaty settlement.
"He came out of his hospital bed to say goodbye to us and to say, 'Don't forget to look after the tribe' - which is totally different from what others would paint it, as him being a controller."
His crowning achievement was negotiating the treaty settlement. But his last two years were blighted as financial woes and governance fights racked the tribe, and ill-health took its toll.
Things began boiling over early last year when Tainui announced a $40 million asset writedown after a series of bungled investments.
Then Sir Robert was stripped of his corporate directorships by the six members of the Tainui executive, Te Kaumaarua, led by chairman Kingi Porima. This led to numerous court cases as Sir Robert wrestled to regain control.
The latest case was ironically called yesterday in the High Court at Hamilton - the day he died.
The Maori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, appointed Tainui legal adviser Shane Solomon to temporarily replace Sir Robert on Te Kaumaarua when he was admitted to hospital about two weeks ago.
However, a Tainui source said Mr Solomon would probably not be Dame Te Ata's permanent choice, and a conflict between the tribe's ruling families had still to be played out before Sir Robert's successor was appointed.
Possible candidates are understood to include Dame Te Ata's son, Maha Paki, or one of Sir Robert's daughters, Tipa Mahuta.
"What we have had is the end of the feudal system," said the source, referring to Sir Robert's death. "There will be a tussle. It will get worse.
"The strife and the conflict does not die with him, because of the agendas of the key families."
Months of personal infighting have left wounds within Tainui that will not be easily healed.
Mr Porima yesterday called for unity between the factions so Sir Robert's legacy to Tainui could be used to develop tribal assets.
"His death is in a way a loss to the Tainui nation because he's been an icon. He helped bring back the settlement to the people."
Mr Porima said there were 12 members on Te Kaumaarua, and the tribe was not lacking leadership on both that body and from Dame Te Ata. However, he could not see anyone who had Sir Robert's strength, drive and mana.
Another spokesman for Sir Robert's whanau, John Te Maru, said the tribal strife of the past six months should not detract from Sir Robert's work.
Sir Robert had a vision that Tainui should not only survive, but prosper.
"That still is the vision. It's now a matter of picking up on some of those things we are yet to see through to fruition."
Asked if Tainui's wrangling would continue, Mr Te Maru said there were always difficulties within organisations about how to achieve things, and that was not unique to Tainui.
A service for Sir Robert will be held on Monday at Waahi Marae.
Sir Robert Mahuta: a flawed colossus
Battles within Tainui will outlive Sir Robert
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.