Sonny Tau to stay on as iwi chair

Ngapuhi's runanga board said it was "very disappointed" in Sony Tau's actions. Photo / John Stone

Ngapuhi will keep Sonny Tau on as iwi chairman despite his removal as chair of the iwi's Treaty settlement body, Tuhoronuku.

In a statement, Ngapuhi's runanga board said it had met and decided Mr Tau would stay on as chair but it was "very disappointed" by his actions after he was caught with kereru when boarding a flight from Invercargill to Northland.

On Monday night, the board of Ngapuhi's Treaty negotiating body Tuhoronuku voted to remove Mr Tau as chair while he was under investigation by the Department of Conservation over the kereru. There have also been calls for Mr Tau to stand down from his other iwi roles, including on the Ngapuhi runanga.

The runanga's statement said the board had discussed the Department of Conservation investigation into Mr Tau at a meeting last night. "[The board] is very disappointed with the actions of the Chairman. It does not condone his actions. It does not condone the taking of kereru." However, the board acknowledged Mr Tau's leadership over the past 15 years had taken the runanga to the position it was now in and he would remain as chair.

Mr Tau is still a board member of the Tuhoronuku group as an iwi representative, but Sam Napia has been appointed Acting Chair. The Wildlife Act prohibits the hunting, possession and receiving of kereru, which is a protected bird. The offence carries penalties of a fine of up to $100,000 and a prison sentence of up to two years.

Ngati Hine's chairman Waihoroi Shortland says Ngapuhi's chairman Sonny Tau has brought the iwi into disrepute and should not stay on in iwi leadership roles.

The Ngapuhi runanga today confirmed Mr Tau would remain as the iwi chair despite being forced to stand down as the head of the iwi's negotiating body Tuhoronuku on Monday night while he faces a Department of Conservation investigation after he was caught with kereru at Invercargill airport.

Mr Shortland is the chair of Ngati Hine, which heads the Kotahitanga grouping of hapu which have challenged the mandate to negotiate Ngapuhi's Treaty settlement. He said he was facing questions about Mr Tau's conduct and ability to lead Ngapuhi. "Sonny Tau was never a leader we empowered. An individual who cannot respect rahui and the kaitiakitanga of another Iwi is not a leader that should be empowered to lead. "

Mr Shortland said Ngai Tahu was understandably aggrieved by the taking of kereru from the South Island. "The mana of Te Taitokerau has been disgraced by these events and this needs to be set right. Sonny Tau may have to answer for his own transgression in another forum, but the shame he has brought on the very house he so righteously held up as the paragon of right and truth in the Te Taitokerau has been shaken to its foundation and for that only the hapu of Ngapuhi can atone."

Mr Shortland said Ngati Hine was not against settlement, but wanted the right to choose its own leaders.