Piripi set to keep Maori language job

By RUTH BERRY

Maori Language Commission chief executive Haami Piripi appears likely to be censured, but to keep his job.

This is despite claims by the Maori Party that he was victimised because the Government mistakenly believed he was linked to the party.

Co-leader Tariana Turia claimed it was part of a wider "witch-hunt" against the party's supporters. That claim was strongly denied by Prime Minister Helen Clark.

At the same time Tamaki Makaurau MP John Tamihere has conceded that, though he didn't lay the conflict-of-interest complaint which triggered the resignation of a senior public servant who is also the Maori Party's organiser in his electorate, he "raised concerns" about the issue.


Mr Piripi attended the Maori Party launch in Wanganui last month, but has said he is not a member of the party.

There is also speculation he has written policy for the party, which he has denied.

Mrs Turia said yesterday that Tai Tokerau MP Dover Samuels had publicly complained about Mr Piripi's Maori Party links.

But Mr Samuels refused to comment on that yesterday, saying he was "not going to engage" with Mrs Turia on the issue. It was clear Mr Piripi had stepped over a politically neutral line in terms of political neutrality when he delivered his "civil war" warning in a foreshore submission, and that was the real issue.

Commission board chairman Patu Hohepa met with Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia over Mr Piripi's future yesterday and said the board would resolve the matter next week.

But the signs were that the Government's initial anger had subsided and Mr Piripi would not lose his job.

Mr Horomia noted Mr Piripi had expressed remorse, and together with Prime Minister Helen Clark expressed confidence in the board's handling of the matter.

Mr Hohepa said Mr Piripi's comments had had "inappropriate" consequences - although he didn't label the comments themselves inappropriate.

And he highlighted the fact Mr Piripi had "legal rights", in an apparent suggestion that employment law was on his side.

Mr Piripi stopped short of an apology, but in another carefully worded gesture said: "I have been reflective about my own actions and can assure you that I have learnt from this."

More telling was his non-scripted comment: " I will be working hard in the future to focus on my role as chief executive of this commission and get on with the business of regenerating the Maori language."

National leader Don Brash asked Helen Clark whether Mr Hohepa's comments that Mr Piripi had a right to express his views as a private citizen were almost a "direct repudiation" of her own comments.

Helen Clark said she was satisfied Mr Hohepa had "said the comments were inappropriate and the commission is taking the matter seriously."

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters meanwhile said it was appropriate Amokura Panoho, regional manager with the Labour Department's Community Employment Group, had resigned because she was a Maori Party organiser, not just a member.

But Mrs Turia accused the Government and some other MPs of applying double standards.

She said NZ First MP Pita Paraone and Government MPs Mr Horomia, Mita Ririnui and Mahara Okeroa had all worked as senior public servants in Te Puni Kokiri until they entered Parliament.

She also said former Te Puni Kokiri chief executive Ngatata Love, who held the job under both National and Labour Governments, was widely known as a prominent Labour Party player during his tenure.