Marae likely to be without electricity

Press, 3 December 1987, Page 9

Marae likely to be without electricity

Electric power to the national marae, Nga Hau E Wha, will be disconnected unless an outstanding account of several thousand dollars is paid by 10 a.m. today.

The chances of it being paid by the deadline, however, appear remote. Exactly who should pay, and whether it can be paid, have become the latest issues in the dispute over control of the marae between the new marae executive and the suspended secretary, Mr Hori Brennan. Mr Brennan went to the High Court yesterday, claiming that the new executive had control of accounts with “more than sufficient” funds to cover the bill.

said depended on the sale of tomatoes being grown in electrically operated, automated greenhouses. Even if the power was cut off, “we still ain’t moving,” said Mr Brennan.

ancial affairs of the marae had prompted the initial move to replace Mr Brennan’s administration. His refusal to provide information for a full audit is now one of the points of issue.

The new executive itself had tried to have electricity and other services cut off a month ago in efforts to remove Mr Brennan, but was restrained by a Court order.

The general manager of the M.E.D., Mr Hal Mace, said that the marae owed “$6OOO or $8000.” The amount was large because delays in getting access to read the meter meant that the account was for six months supply. Meter readers had had continual problems getting access. They would come across locked doors or gates and not be able to find a key holder, said Mr Mace. A final notice for the account was sent on November 5. Disconnection for nonpayment usually came only seven days after a final notice but in this case had been left “a little bit longer,” said Mr Mace.

A board spokesman who asked not to be identified said yesterday that the board was “trying to resolve the problem.”

The hearing, in chambers, will resume at 10 a_m. today. Mr Brennan and his supporters have refused to leave the marae since his suspension in September. He accused the new executive yesterday of being prepared to “run the marae down” in its efforts to displace him. Cutting the power off would jeopardise the marae's income, which he

Now that the M.E.D. had acted, the question was not whether the board wanted to pay the account, but whether it could do so. “We still do not know our financial situation,” he said. The spokesman said that until the board met, he could make no further comment. Questions over the fin-