Tamihere suggests TPK staff not up to job

By RUTH BERRY, political reporter

Associate Maori Affairs Minister John Tamihere has questioned whether some senior Te Puni Kokiri managers are up to their jobs after a highly critical review of the ministry.

The comments are set to ruffle more feathers in the ministry, already reeling from the States Services Commission review that questioned its ability to carry out basic functions and indicated it would oversee an overhaul.

It said the problems identified could indicate a "serious impediment to the business of government through the deterioration of the relationship between a minister and his chief executive and senior officials".

Mr Tamihere, who has been criticised in the past for naming Maori leaders he believes should stand aside, refused to name the staff he was talking about. But he suggested they were impeding chief executive Leith Comer's ability to move the ministry forward.

The review was triggered by a series of wrong answers provided to Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia by Te Mangai Paho, which the ministry is in charge of monitoring.

Mr Horomia was asked in Parliament yesterday whether he had full confidence in Mr Comer and the department.

Mr Horomia said he was confident that given the support of the State Services Commission, the Treasury and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, a strategic plan would be developed that addressed the concerns.

He expressed his confidence in Mr Comer on the day the report was released, but said yesterday questions of confidence were for State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham.

Mr Wintringham told the Herald: "I don't give general public performance reviews of the chief executives I employ. That includes expressions of confidence or otherwise.

"I have stated that the monitoring of Te Mangai Paho and support of the Minister of Maori Affairs was inadequate. I have also said the commission would be supporting Mr Comer as he progresses change in Te Puni Kokiri. I think that is a clear enough message."

Mr Tamihere, however, was more forthcoming, saying he had "absolute confidence" in Mr Comer.

"I think Leith is one of the foremost Maori senior officials."

Mr Comer had been well-blooded as the former under-secretary of the Economic Development Ministry.

Previous health work in Rotorua had resulted in the setting in place of some big developments in Maori health programmes in that area.

"The guy has shown a clear success capability and commitment so I think it augurs well if, out of this report, he's able to take it forward again," Mr Tamihere said.

"[The ministry] was put in place as the Iwi Transition Agency, which was supposed to devolve itself under [then chief executive] Wira Gardiner.

"Most of the senior managers are from that [early 1990s] era. The question is, do they have the skills, capabilities and energy to be the key Government relationship vehicle with Maori where we're going?

"And the answer to that question is that some of them have demonstrated some difficulty with that. The reality is we've moved dramatically forward since that period."

Asked whether he meant heads should roll, he said "the jury is still out". "I have to be careful saying that because you don't want to destroy the morale in the organisation."