Board seeks advice

Press, 23 May 1988, Page 1

Board seeks advice

Special correspondent Auckland The future of the suspension of Mrs Titewhai Harawira as coordinator of. the Maori health unit at Carrington Hospital may rest on a meeting being held today. The Auckland Hospital Board’s general manager, Mr lan Campbell, will hear recommendations from the board’s Maori Advisory Group on Mrs Harawira’s continued suspension. Mrs Harawira was suspended by the board after being served with a police summons on Thursday. She has been charged with threatening to kill, being party to assault with intent to injure and a joint charge of assault with intent to injure. The charges relate to allegations that a patient was beaten at the Whare Paia, a wing of the Carrington Maori health unit. Four other health unit workers have been charged in connection with the same patient. They will appear, with Mrs Harawira, at the District Court, in Auckland, on Thursday. Mr Campbell said last evening that he had sought advice from the board’s Maori Advisory Group over Mrs Harawira’s suspension. Mrs Harawira had been authorised to attend a meeting at the Whare Paia yesterday, Mr Campbell said.