Wananga and minister drop fists

The relationship between the Government and Te Wananga o Aotearoa is improving, with further signs yesterday that both sides are willing to make compromises.


The wananga agreed last week to Education Minister Trevor Mallard's plan to appoint a Crown manager to take financial control of the institution, but the two parties have since been arguing over the conditions.

The Herald understands Education Ministry officials wanted the manager, Brian Roche, installed for 18 months.

But the wananga said the matter should be reviewed if the Auditor-General's report, expected out earlier, was favourable.

It appears officials may have backed down yesterday, with Mr Mallard revealing he was willing to review Mr Roche's position in the wake of a positive Auditor-General report, "and when I am convinced that systems are in place which protect public funding and will maintain public confidence in the institution".

Mr Mallard said he had never proposed an 18-month tenure, but conceded that ministry officials were dealing with the details and might have suggested it.

The minister also indicated he was prepared to review legal constraints imposed on the wananga in relation to non-Maori students.

A deed of settlement signed with the institution in 2002 states its roll should be 80 per cent Maori.

At least some Government funding is contingent on that ratio being met.

At present just over 50 per cent of the wananga's students are Pakeha. Mr Mallard raised his concerns about the breach last week.

But yesterday he indicated he was willing to reconsider the restriction.

Wananga chief executive Rongo Wetere is not the only one angry about the restriction.

Act MP Ken Shirley, who first raised concerns about the wananga, agrees it is discriminatory, and the Hui Taumata held in Wellington last week also passed resolutions opposing it.

Dr Wetere has meanwhile said the wananga would no longer call itself a university - another bone of contention with the Government.

Popular Government trouble-shooter Wira Gardiner has been appointed as the fourth Government member of the wananga's council.