Petition to wind wp marae filed

Press, 19 February 1988, Page 1

Petition to wind wp marae filed

By

JANE ENGLAND,

Maori affairs reporter

A petition to wind up the administration of the Nga Hau E Wha national marae was filed yesterday in the High Court by the marae executive.

The action, which has been supported by the marae’s board of trustees, marks the climax of months of tension over the future of the marae. The petition, to be heard on March 16, could result in the appointment of a liquidator to close the marae and seal its debts. The petition, however, does not necessarily spell the end of the marae project. The chairman of the marae executive, Mr Waha Stirling, said he hoped that another administration could be put in place to pay creditors, stop unauthorised spending, halt deterioration of buildings, and complete building programmes. “I believe this can be achieved quickly if a team of professional administrators and financial experts is appointed who would control the day-to-day activities of the marae, and be totally accountable to the controlling authority.” Mr Stirling said both groups in the dispute should assist the Government by removing themselves from the marae, handing over the records, and allowing professionals to move in. More than $6.4 million of tax-

payers’ money has been spent on the marae which is now facing debts of more than $50,000 that cannot be handled. The marae society also has a $20,000 overdraft from Trust Bank Canterbury. Mr Stirling said yesterday that the board of - trustees did not consider the marae was able to generate enough funds to clear the outstanding obligations. The marae’s problems have been escalating since the former secretary of the board, Mr Hori Brennan, was arrested on August 22, after an administrative takeover bid resulted in a clash with the police. Mr Brennan was supported by family and friends and refused to leave the marae after being formally suspended from his post on September 13. He later lodged legal action against the marae’s new executive but this was resolved in an out-of-court settlement between the rival administrations. Mr Stirling said that regularisation of the marae’s affairs in light of the dispute with Mr Brennan and his supporters seemed unlikely to be settled for some time. “In the meantime, the affairs

of the marae are unable to be conducted in a proper and responsible manner.” The board of trustees had been endeavouring to conclude financial accounts for the year to March 31, 1987. Mr Stirling said Mr Brennan and his supporters had not been co-operative in supplying the information and records which it was believed they held The decision to file the petition was reached after the utmost legal and financial advice had been gained, Mr Stirling said. It was with a “heavy heart, sadness and deep regret” that the winding-up step had been taken, he said. “But if the mana and integrity of myself, the executive, board of trustees, local elders and the Ngai Tahu Maori people of the whole of the South Island are to be preserved in the eyes of ... the Mayor and the City Council, the Government, and many businesses which have been so patient in waiting for money owing over many months, we must take these most drastic steps.” Minister’s view, page 6