By VANESSA BIDOIS
Like the emperor with no clothes, defiant Tainui godfather Sir Robert Mahuta is being forced into a costume change.
His fall from power has always been on the cards, but a report in Saturday's Weekend Herald is now being credited with accelerating his dumping as chief of the iwi's cash-strapped corporate bodies.
Sir Robert was so irritated by the article, which detailed the extent of the Waikato tribe's money woes, that he gave a rare interview to a television reporter - but the item has yet to screen.
The 61-year-old is on dialysis for kidney problems and is renowned for firing off scathing letters to any perceived detractors.
In February, Tainui announced a $40 million writedown, the winding-down of its $31 million investment arm, MDC, and the sale of $11 million of land returned in the tribe's $170 million land confiscation settlement five years ago.
Dismissing the financial crisis as a blip, Sir Robert blamed senior executives for a series of investment blunders and moved to reassert his control.
He was dealt an embarrassing setback last month when an emergency meeting of the 183-strong tribal parliament, Te Kauhanganui, rejected his six-point restructuring plan.
The marae delegates referred the recommendations to the newly elected iwi executive, Tekaumarua, for review.
At its first meeting on June 30, however, Sir Robert simply unveiled a revised plan that would have restricted the executive's powers to non-financial matters.
Unbeknown to the Tekaumarua representatives, he had also changed some of the information at a separate presentation, saying he refused to hand over unfinished business potentially worth $900 million to a group of "fools."
On Monday, a second meeting was held to reconcile Sir Robert, the Tekaumarua and the tribe's financial advisers.
But the outcome was the opposite.
When the talks broke down, Sir Robert stormed out and the remaining Tekaumarua members passed a resolution asking for his resignation from the corporate directorships by 5 pm on Tuesday.
If he did not resign, they would take "appropriate steps" to remove him as chairman of the Waikato Raupatu Lands Trust, MDC Investment Holdings and the tribe's parent company, Tainui Group Holdings.
He would also be sacked as head of the strategy committee set up to solve the cashflow crisis, but reports that the Tekaumarua wants to oust him completely from the tribe are untrue.
He will remain the principal negotiator, a custodial trustee, a member of the Tekaumarua, and interim provost of the $15 million Waikato University College based at the tribe's Hopuhopu headquarters.
The only non-elected member of the executive, Sir Robert can be forced to stand down only by his step-sister, the Maori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
A delegation of Tekaumarua members had hoped to break the news to Sir Robert in person on Monday, but he was "unavailable" and attempts to arrange a meeting early on Tuesday also failed.
When he turned up for work that morning, he reportedly tried to run down a newspaper photographer stationed at the Hopuhopu gates.
He spent the day holed up in his mansion on the hill - the endowed college - so a letter detailing the resolution was delivered to him instead.
By 5 pm, however, there had been no response, so the way is now clear for the Tekaumarua to strip him of his corporate powers.
While many Tainui are still in shock at the unprecedented leadership challenge, many have seen the writing on the wall for some time and are relieved that the new-look executive is finally taking control.
Te Kauhanganui is the sole shareholder of the Waikato Raupatu Lands Trustee Company, the successor to the Tainui Maori Trust Board, and the Tekaumarua executive are also directors of that company.
That means they are personally liable for any debts, despite being in the job for a little over 10 weeks.
The Tekaumarua was expected to meet the tribe's main creditor, the Bank of New Zealand, yesterday and the demise of Sir Robert will no doubt be welcomed by the bank.
He has openly admitted to obstructing the financial rescue package led by the independent advisers.
The executive members are seen as a mix of old hands and new blood, a generational shift in leadership for the wealthy Waikato iwi who will not want to see any more erosion of the multimillion-dollar asset base.
Who's who in the Tekaumarua
Tommy Moana, a consultant to the Waikato Museum of Art and History and a member of a kaumatua (elder) group which advises Health Waikato. He has taken leave of absence from the Tekaumarua while he faces fraud charges relating to his time as executive director of the Maori Health Commission. He is a former Maori liaison officer with the Justice Department, and a former member of the Tainui Maori Trust Board and the interim Te Kauhanganui executive.
Hemi Rau, a qualified teacher with a tertiary qualification in economics who is an iwi liaison officer based in Hamilton with Te Puni Kokiri (the Ministry of Maori Development).
Hori Awa, chief executive of Huntly-based Waahi Whanui Trust, a role that includes Government contracting in health, employment and training. A trustee of Trust Waikato and a director of Raukura Moana Fishing, he has experience in retail, insurance and company management.
Meringaroto Hohaia, a lay minister and former member of the Waikato University council.
Te Puaha Tomo, a trained design engineer who has worked in design, sales and industrial engineering for several big companies and who founded Tomo Industries in 1987. A former director of Tainui Development, and a former trustee and chairman of Tamaki ki Raro Trust.
Tame (Tom) Roa, a lecturer at Waikato University, studying for his master's degree in history, his research centres on ways in which Maori can preserve their history. His publications include a text on Maori custom.
Lisa Ferguson, a researcher studying for her PhD who has done contract work for the Waitangi Tribunal and the national health committee chaired by Professor Mason Durie.
Kingi Porima, JP, a retired forestry operator who is now the chairman of the Tekaumarua. A kaumatua of Waipapa Marae and an executive member of Te Runanganui o Ngati Hikairo, Mr Porima is a former member of the Tainui Maori Trust Board and the interim Te Kauhanganui executive.
Te Ao Marama Maaka, a community education worker and member of the Morrinsville College and Primary School board of trustees, and a former national councillor with the School Trustees' Association. Also secretary of Kai-a-Te-Mata Marae and a former member of Tainui Maori Trust Board and interim Te Kauhanganui executive.
Te Umu McLean, a founding director of both Tainui Group Holdings and MDC Investment Holdings, chairman of the tribe's kohanga reo committee, and a former member of the Tainui Maori Trust Board and interim Te Kauhanganui executive.
Rahui Papa, a Waikato University graduate and teacher at Huntly-based Rakaumanga School, who often acts as a master of ceremonies at Tainui events.
Sir Robert Te Kotahi Mahuta, Tainui principal negotiator and one of the tribe's custodial trustees, founding fellow and interim provost of the Waikato University College at Hopuhopu, and deputy chairman of the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission, Te Ohu Kaimoana.
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