Kei nga ihoiho o nga maunga whakahi, kei nga wai whakatere taniwha tena koutou katoa. Ko Mihingarangi tenei e mihi atu nei, nau mai, tahuti mai ra. Welcome to The Hui, Maori current affairs for all New Zealanders. E taro ake nei. Millions of dollars of tribal funds invested in a start-up whitebait company now in receivership, and at the centre of the deal ` controversial iwi leader Roger Pikia. We speak to Te Arawa leaders fuming over the potential loss of iwi money. Devastated that, after two and a half years, the nonsense is still carrying on. And we walk to the minister of Crown/Maori relations, Kelvin Davis. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. Karahuihui mai. He whatitiri ki te rangi, ko Te Arawa ki te whenua. In 2016, The Hui broadcast a story that centred on the Te Arawa River Iwi Trust. TARIT is a charitable organisation that receives treaty settlement money for the purpose of restoring the health and well-being of the Waikato River for future generations. Our investigation looked at the concerns raised by some about the management of the Trust, led by iwi leader Roger Pikia and some investments made while he was chairman of the Trust. Today we have an update on that story. A whitebait company that the Trust has interests in is now in receivership, and leading Te Arawa kaumatua want someone held to account. (TRANQUIL MUSIC) Just as the carvings of this whare tupuna have protected the business of Te Arawa for decades, these kaumatua are determined to protect their tribe's interests. Is it still about that? Even more so today. Even more so today because these misdemeanours are being enacted by our own people. Does that make it harder? Yes and no. It makes it harder because these people are well educated that are involved, but how can you assist some people who believe they know better than you? Two years ago, Sir Toby Curtis and six other esteemed Te Arawa leaders raised a red flag, writing to government ministers about the way iwi money was being invested and who was benefiting from it. their concerns centred on TARIT, the Te Arawa River Iwi, which is tasked with restoring the health of the Waikato River. We were asking for an investigation into the affairs of the Te Arawa Iwi River Trust. I think it's been treated as a very hot potato, and ministers are a little shy of having a say about it. These are funds that belong to our people ` and not just iwi either; they belong to the nation, so we got to behave properly. So, yeah. They have an absolute responsibility to bring it to the attention of the authorities and to stamp it out. At the helm of TARIT is Roger Pikia. The kaumatua were angry that Pikia had personally benefited from TARIT's investments, receiving shares in a food company called Ka Ora. Its primary investment is a start-up company called NZ Premium Whitebait, in which it is the main shareholder. I was allocated shares in January for helping to raise capital for the company. Many companies throughout the world issue shares and provide them to company directors or management staff as an incentive for performance or an incentive for doing whatever job or function they're asked to do, so that's not unusual. In fact, it's very usual. Last month, New Zealand Premium Whitebait went into receivership. Three iwi trusts have invested millions of dollars into Ka Ora and its whitebait company. Furious. Devastated... that, after two and half years, the nonsense is still carrying on. Furious because in 2016, this woman, Katie Paul, the former CEO of TARIT, was allegedly fired after she raised concerns about Pikia's conduct. Today she speaks out for the first time. The issues I was raising were around the use of tribal money against the trust deed and the inappropriate use of that. Two years on from Paul's allegations, New Zealand Premium Whitebait's receivership means TARIT's investment could be down the drain, and they aren't alone. This could have been addressed a couple of years ago. It wasn't, and we've ended up where we are, where not just the TARIT beneficiaries, but other trusts and corporations will also stand to lose a great deal. We know that TARIT ` or the Te Arawa Iwi River Trust ` has invested and loaned over $2 million to its company's interests in the project. Another trust which Pikia chairs, Tahu Whaoa, has also loaned at least $600,000, while another trust, the Rotoiti 15 Partnership, has invested more than $2 million as well. Depending on how the receivership unfolds, some of these trusts stand to lose the whole of their investments. Roger Pikia has three separate interests in Ka Ora and its whitebait company. He is chairman of both Tahu Whaoa and TARIT. Controversially, his own company, Aotearoa Inc, was gifted shares in Ka Ora in return for raising capital from the trusts he chaired. New Zealand Premium Whitebait's plan was to farm whitebait in captivity for export. Chief Executive Jeremy Gardiner declined to comment on the receivership, but another shareholder told The Hui the collapse was due to another shareholder, Rotoiti 15, refusing to make a crucial payment. Rotoiti 15 is a large land trust with more than 10,000 beneficiaries. Its investment is alongside another trust, Ruahine Kuharoa. Last year, all the shareholders of the whitebait company agreed to refinance the company to keep it afloat. Rotoiti 15 was to put in $2 million, but earlier this year, they reneged on that payment, and sources have told The Hui that the trustees of Rotoiti 15 lost confidence in the whitebait company's prospects. As someone who is from Rotoiti, knowing where that money has come from, how do you feel that it's now been essentially wasted; it's gone into an organisation that's now gone under? I suppose my view is probably more one of emotion. The next AGM I, will be going there to speak my mind, and those people who are on there should not continue to be on the Trust. The kaumatua are hoping for a better response with this government after previous ministers passed the complaint from office to office with Te Ururoa Flavell eventually telling the group to deal with it as an iwi. He got in touch with me and said, 'This is a matter that should be led by Te Arawa 'and not necessary government or cabinet or high-ranking ministers. 'It is something that is really a local concern.' They contacted the police instead, and the matter was referred on to the serious fraud office. That investigation is ongoing, but Sir Toby says it's been too slow. Because it's now involved another trust, where they've given millions of dollars to this opportunity, and now we hear that the whitebait company, which they invested these millions of dollars in, has done a topsy-turvy. Katie Paul is still involved in a personal grievance with TARIT. She claims Mr Pikia had her locked out of the building, disabled her computer and phone, and had her company car collected after she raised concerns about Mr Pikia's business dealings, but when we asked Pikia about this in 2016, he strongly denied it. She went on leave and has taken a PG. She took leave? Yes, she took leave. Did you stand her down? From CEO? Her position. No. Did you ask her to leave? No. Today Paul says the news about the potential loss of TARIT's investment is disappointing but not surprising. In fact, I probably knew this was coming, which is why I raised the issue with the elders, and the elders took it further from there. But at the same time, I am quite deeply saddened. I think the message that the elders have delivered and said over two years hasn't changed. One is that Roger Pikia needs to be stood down. He is currently under an active serious fraud investigation. Additionally, I do believe that the trustees who enabled the behaviour of the chair need to be held to account. They also need to take responsibility. Te Arawa River Iwi Trust's monies have come from a treaty settlement over the degradation of the Waikato River. The Crown set aside $250 million over 30 years for iwi to help clean up the river. Sir Toby Curtis is warning the government to reconsider TARIT's funding. I think most of the people involved in terms of TARIT, I think that they would like to have that money stopped at this stage until the mess is sorted out. Four different authorities are currently looking into issues at TARIT, including the Charities Commission. My challenge to the Minister is get this department going. We are not seeing justice being delivered, and that's what's required. We asked Roger Pikia to be interviewed for that story. He said while he would like to comment, he isn't authorised to. Hei muri i nga whakatairanga ka korero ahau ki te Minita Take Karauna, Take Iwi, ki a Kelvin Davis Hoki mai ano. Well, on Friday, I spoke to the Minister for Crown/Treaty Relations about a call from Te Arawa leaders that iwi trusts be more accountable to their people. That's due to ongoing concerns involving the management of the Te Arawa River Iwi Trust, a charitable organisation tasked with the clean-up of the Waikato River. Anei tera korero. Just looking at that story that we've watched down, Maanu Paul, he's furious the Charities Commission has taken two and a half years and still no outcome at TARIT there. I know you can't speak specifically to it, but, I guess, for beneficiaries and iwi members that are trying to get some answers from their leaders, is that good enough? The issue here is post-settlement. The Crown signs off the settlements, and basically we say, 'Here you go, iwi. You're to manage what you've been given,' and it comes down to the question of where does the Crown actually have to butt out of iwi business and leave iwi to get on with things? And so the Crown really isn't in a position to say to any iwi, 'You've gotta spend your money like this or like that.' The settlement's been signed off. Iwi are in charge of their putea. The Crown really should step back and keep out of the iwi's affairs. And sort of what I'm hearing around our Crown/Maori hu` We've been going around the country and listening to people, and they're saying, 'You're the government, kawanatanga. You're over here. 'Rangatiratanga is for iwi. You're over here.' And what they're really saying now is that they actually want rangatiratanga, but they want the Crown to step in when things don't go right, and we're saying, 'Oh, this is not rangatiratanga.' What I'm hearing, from that group of kaumatua, at least, is that when the Crown sets up a structure and says, 'This is the structure that you have to have your post-settlement putea in,' what they're saying is that structure doesn't give them rangatiratanga because, as members of that iwi, they're unable to hold their leaders to account. You see, I disagree. When iwi have their funds and their... everything's being managed by them, it's up to the people to hold their leaders to account; it's not up to the government to hold iwi leaders to account. So there's a difference of opinion there. I mean, look, I feel really sorry for them that they've got into this situation, but it's not the job of a minister to go in and tell an iwi how to run their funds. If things were running really well and the Crown came in and said, 'Hey, we don't like what you're doing there. We want to intervene,' they would go, 'Butt out.' Cos things aren't going so well, they're saying, 'Crown, we want you to butt in,' and.... it's a conundrum, absolutely. So you're comfortable to continue giving Crown money into a treaty settlement process that's been put to high-risk businesses and potentially lost. Is it Crown money? Because once there's a settlement, it's over to iwi to manage their affairs. Sir Toby Curtis is asking for you to just taihoa on the TARIT funding, the TARIT proportion of the Waikato settlement money that is a yearly allocation. Would you do that? I'm not the minister responsible for that funding, but I can have a conversation with my colleagues, because this is a situation that does need to be resolved for the beneficiaries, for the purpose that the settlement was made. I'm not going to make commitments and decisions here on camera, but certainly I'll have a conversation with my colleagues to see what we can do without stamping on the rangatiratanga of the iwi. Just quickly, the tourism levy that's being discussed at the moment, do you see benefit there for iwi and Maori tourism groups? I see a benefit for all of New Zealand. This is something that we really need to look at with the numbers of tourists coming in. We have infrastructure problems in all of our communities, and we really want to resolve them so that people, and Maori in particular, can benefit from what tourism brings to New Zealand, and part of our strategy is to get more people out into the regions where Maori live, and so it's really important that we have putea, basically, to support those areas where Maori are engaging in tourism. Do you see more opportunity like the Kaikoura Whale Watch, like Rotoiti, hangi, and concerts and those kinds of things? So are there opportunities for other people to apply for some funding, perhaps, and set their own businesses up? Is that what it's for? Well, it'll be to support tourism in its broadest sense. Infrastructure is one of the big things. We'd love to see more people visiting the east coast, visiting Tai Tokerau, visiting the harder-to-reach areas, and we've got to make sure that they can get there safely and, when they're there, that they have the facilities and the amenities to use, that their attractions are up to scratch. But this government is very, very keen to support Maori tourism. A ko ake nei, ka korero ahau ki nga kaitono Maori e whakataetae ana mo te rohe poti e kia nei ko Northcote. Labour candidate Shanan Halbert and National Candidate Dan Bidois join me next. Auraki mai ano. Well, two Maori candidates are currently contesting the North Shore seat of Northcote. While the shore is better known for it's wealthy beachside suburbs, Northcote is home to a strong Maori community, including the iconic Hato Petera College, which now faces closure. To discuss the big issues in the electorate, I'm joined now by Labour candidate Shanan Halbert and the National Party's Dan Bidois. Tena korua. Morena. Good morning. Nau mai haere mai. Dan, I'll start with you, because the Greens have just announced they'll stand a candidate in that seat. That'll be helpful for you, will it? I actually know Rebekah, and I congratulated her on Facebook last night, and I'm looking forward to seeing her on the campaign trail, and it's just fantastic; the more the merrier at this stage. But does it make it easier for you, do you think? Because, you know, there'll be Labour/Green voters, and she might split some of those votes. Not really. I mean, we're just focused on our own campaign, so it doesn't really change much from our perspective. We've got a strong team. We've got a strong message around transport, no extra taxes, and more services for the area of Northcote, so we're just continuing on that vein and going forward to the election date, which is the 9th of June. Are you disappointed? This election is about choosing the best representative for our whanau in Northcote. I'm looking forward to working with Rebekah again, and we support democracy, and that's what this is about. It will get the issues out on the table. We want to talk about housing, health, and education. But you made such a good run against Jonathan Coleman; you closed that majority gap, and you need those extra votes. Couldn't your party have had a conversation with the Green Party? Haven't they cut your lunch? What we know is that our Green voters, they're sensible. They'll read between the lines, and they'll make the best decision at the time to ensure that we have a strong local voice. Then why do it? Why stand? If that's the point, if they're sensible voters, why stand a candidate against you? Well, for every party, it's important that we get our messages across, and my message in this election is about having a strong local voice, and that's what I'm standing for. Ka pai. You both come from` You have an education background of some kind as somebody who's worked as a teacher, and I understand that you focused on Maori education when you were at Harvard? Yeah, I'm a bit of a Jack of all trades. I'm a qualified butcher. I'm a strategy consultant. I'm an economist. But also I've got a passion for education, so I did my honours thesis looking at Maori and Pacific achievement in university education, and I did my master's thesis looking at early childhood education and the funding system around early childhood education in New Zealand. So if you put that strategy hat on, what is one idea that could raise the success of Maori students in the New Zealand education system? Great question. I think charter schools are a fantastic model. I visited many charter schools while I was in the US, and I was amazed at the performance of these kids that have not done well in mainstream education and what they've been able to achieve when they've got a different model, and it's just a shame that this government has decided not to` So what would you have in a place like Northcote, for example, where Hato Petera has one student left at it. Would that be an option there for some of those Maori students who are looking for an alternative education? I empathise with that student and the family in this occasion, but Hato Petera, there is a process that is going forward right now with the Minister of Education appointing a commissioner. I don't want to politicise this. We're in the middle of a campaign by-election. All I will say on Hato Petera is that, should I be elected, I'll be working with the Diocese, the Catholic Diocese` I'm gonna come back to Hato Petera, cos it is a political issue, I agree. Talk to me about charter schools, because you've said in the past that you don't support them, yet you were at the coalface of Maori education, if you like, working with Maori students; you know the results. That's right. My career has been dedicated to creating access for young people and second-chance learners into higher learning and into trades training, and charter schools is one option, but that actually can be achieved within our public` It's a good option, though? Any system that raises achievement for Maori is good, but that can be achieved within our public education system, and when we look within our local schools in Northcote, we see good examples, and one example is our Services Academy at Glenfield College. Another great example, which we terribly miss, is the Health Sciences Academy that I established at Hato Petera. That meant that young people had higher aspirations for their learning. They knew and understood where that pathway-ed them to in terms of employment. Those are the things that matter, and what we know is that engagement is the number one priority for Maori in education. So give me that one idea. I'll give you that opportunity to give me one idea that would raise the success of Maori students at high school. We need to resource our local schools adequately, and what we'll see is that that will boost the numeracy and literacy of Maori students, which has plateaued within Northcote. And we also have 200 learners that are leaving our local school system in the Kaipatiki area that don't have pre-degree or Level 2 to 4 options. We need more training options locally for the 200 school leavers within Northcote. Do you support teachers being paid more? Oh, no, I mean, my party raised teacher pay significantly in their time in office, and I've already said that, certainly, I think that good teachers should be valued more, but I certainly don't want to comment on pay as we're going forward in this and politicising something that` It is an issue at the moment. I just wanna come back to Hato Petera. We have one student at that school. It's costing the taxpayer around $200,000 a year. Should it be closed down? The process that's going through ` and you know, Mihi, how hard I've advocated for our whanau at Hato Petera ` that Minister Hipkins is going through a consultation process. That's not something that the former National ministers fronted up to in the last election nor the local MP, but they detached themselves from the problem. Nine years later, it's landed on Hipkins' desk, and he needs to go through that process, but he has got an open ear. What do you think? $200,000 for one student. Should it stay open or be closed? Oh, look, as Shanan said` I mean, Shanan worked at Hato Petera, so he's got the knowledge, and I don't wanna certainly comment on` Just say it is closed down. What do you think the land should be used for? I think there's a lot of options on the table. What are some of them? Well, De Paul House is currently using some space to house people with housing needs, and that's fantastic, but again, I don't want to politicise this. But it's a political issue. It's a political issue. Not really. I mean, we're in an eight-week campaign, and all I can say is that I'm committed` Maori education, Dan, is a political issue,... Absolutely, but it's` ...because for decades and decades, our children have been failed in schools. And, Mihi, you're talking about me. Did you know that I dropped out of high school when I was 15? So I'm asking you to talk about education and put that on the table because it's a political issue. And I'm asking you what are some of the options for that land if it was to close? Well, there are options for another school. There are options for housing. But again, my commitment to the people of Northcote is to work with those involved and to come to some amicable solution in the future. Can we build houses on that land? The people of Northcote ` all people ` they hold a very fond place in their heart for Hato Petera. They remember the days that it flourished, and that's what they want back. That's their commitment to Maori education, and that's what I'm gonna advocate for. The land needs to be developed. Part of my work at Hato Petera was putting up a very visionary plan that future-proofed the school, that brought in services and facilities for all of the community, particularly Maori. I'm gonna quickly move on. Beach Haven community is trying to build themselves a marae. Would you support a marae down there in Beach Haven? I haven't been to see the land down there, but I'd certainly, as their local MP, want to work with the people that want to establish a marae on the grounds. Would you support government funding for that marae? No. I mean, I think that if communities can work together` Why not? Well, I just don't know the details, Mihi. We build playgrounds for communities. Why not a marae? Absolutely. Well, what I'm saying is I don't know the details of this particular marae. I haven't even visited yet. We're four weeks into an eight-week campaign. I've worked with our local board, and` I'm gonna ask you a different question, cos there is another marae over there. They've put up $100,000 to get that off the ground. There's another marae on that North Shore. It's called Awataha Marae, and the local community say that they're locked out of that one. That is a community marae on Auckland Council land looked after by LINZ. Have you advocated for that group? I'm advocating for the use of two marae, that we do need access to quality facilities, and part of that is A) building the Beach Haven marae. Why would be build a new marae if there's already a marae there? Because the Maori communities` Northcote is an electorate, and there's multiple Maori communities, and all of our whanau need one in Northcote. We have the Hato Petera one, and we need one in Beach Haven, but there needs to be a sustainable funding plan that supports those marae to flourish. I'm gonna quickly ask you some quick-fire, cos we've only got 10 seconds left. The Maori that live in Northcote come from which iwi, Dan? Ngapuhi. Ka pai. Second iwi? Ngati Porou. Ka pai. Two rugby clubs in Northcote. One? Uh, Northcote Rugby Club. Yes. Glenfield Rugby Club. Ka pai. And the Northcote Tigers, my favourite team. That's league. Well, rugby league. OK, tena korua. Thank you very much. All the best on the campaign. Kia ora ra. Thank you. Hei tera wiki i runga i a Te Hui. Demanding and chaotic ` caring for a child with special needs can be high-stress and isolating. Brings back some yucky memories. Some of the children are being fostered because the parents just can't manage any more. But finally, a solution ` a place of hope and healing. You know, give them a break. Sit down and have a kai, have a cup of tea, and it's amazing what that can do. It's a beautiful buzz to inspire people. Next week we meet the women helping some extraordinary whanau, doing away with the experts and getting on with it themselves. Kua hikina te hui mo tenei ra. We'll post links to the show on our Facebook page and on Twitter at The Hui NZ, and you'll find all our stories on the Newshub website. And if you have a story you'd like to share with us, send us a private message on the Facebook page. Newshub Nation is next. Pai marire ki a tatou katoa. Captions by Madison Batten. www.able.co.nz Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. Copyright Able 2018 ALL: He mea tautoko na Te Mangai Paho.