Te reo leader on leave as employment issue sorted

Maori Language Commission chief executive Huhana Rokx is on leave because of an employment issue.

Chairman Erima Henare says the board is actively working to resolve the issue.

"The board has given a commitment to all parties concerned to work in good faith to resolve the matter as quickly as practicable.

"We are grateful that the staff have undertaken to stay focused on the work of the commission in the meantime."

Board members, including Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi, Hana O'Regan and Ruakere Hond, would not comment on the issue.

Former chief executive Haami Piripi said rumours were circulating about the situation.

"I'm really concerned for the future of the organisation. If there's problems there we want to get in and fix them."

Ms Rokx was appointed to the commission in 2007 after a decade of working in government education roles. She was the first female to hold the top job.

At the time the commission said Ms Rokx's "strong management and administrative experience" coupled with "a certain x-factor" distinguished her from other high-calibre applicants.

Her last job was as a general manager of the Maori-medium publisher Learning Media, Te Pou Taki Korero.