Maori broadcasting agency boss gets week's reprieve

By FRANCESCA MOLD political reporter

Te Mangai Paho chief executive Trevor Moeke has been given a week-long reprieve from calls for his head.

The agency's interim chairman, Wira Gardiner, met Mr Moeke yesterday to advise him of the board's plan to review his management and the governance of Te Mangai Paho.

Another meeting has been scheduled for next Thursday.

Mr Gardiner's decision to take time to consider a damning Treasury report on the agency's handling of former radio manager Tame Te Rangi, accused of accepting kickbacks, gives Mr Moeke a few days' breathing space.

But it is unlikely to change the outcome, with the Government still expecting Mr Moeke to either resign or be dismissed.

Mr Gardiner would not comment on Mr Moeke's future last night.

But he said the board would look at the agency's management.

"You don't need to be Einstein to appreciate that," he said. "Nothing is sacrosanct, everything is reviewable."

The Treasury report condemned Mr Moeke for failing to stop Mr Te Rangi from working as a commentator for a broadcasting company while he was responsible for giving it Government funding.

Te Mangai Paho's former chairman Toby Curtis resigned this week for his role in the fiasco.

Mr Gardiner said his focus over the next few days would be to formulate a plan to try to win back public and Government confidence.

Mr Moeke did not return calls yesterday and Mr Gardiner instructed all staff not to talk to the media.

But Act MP Rodney Hide, who prompted the review by making allegations under parliamentary privilege, was scathing yesterday.

"This is the Government just winching up the guillotine to drop on Mr Moeke's head," he said.

Mr Hide said new employment laws meant the Government could not fire Mr Moeke despite the fact he had overseen the "financial shenanigans" identified in the report.

The MP said Mr Horomia should also be held responsible, because he had shielded the officials from attempts to hold them accountable.

A lawyer for the sportscasting company caught up in the row said the report confirmed it was an innocent party.

The report found that Maori Sports Casting International had been up front with Te Mangai Paho about Mr Te Rangi's commentating job. It had raised the issue several times and asked Mr Te Rangi whether it was a conflict of interest.

Speaking on behalf of MSCI managing director Hemana Waaka, lawyer Prue Kapua said her client had been unfairly caught up in a media storm, fuelled by ambitious politicians. He had been subjected to unjustified and cowardly attacks.

"It's been very hard for Mr Waaka," said Ms Kapua. "It has got pretty personal at times."

The allegations had also had a devastating effect on Mr Waaka's business, which was to advance Maori language on TV and radio.

"Hopefully people will judge him by his track record and not take on board some of the untrue stuff that has been floating around."