Press Release 10/5/007

Police Called in Ngapuhi Gay Nightclub and Leisure-Boat “Investments”

Ngapuhi leader David Rankin is furious that the Ngapuhi Runanga ran a social services arm which spent its funding on investing in a gay nightclub in Auckland, boats and failed tourism ventures one of the board members rather than on providing assistance to Maori in Northland.

‘This is an outrageous misuse of our tribe’s funds’, says Mr Rankin, ‘and what is more, the Runanga is refusing to release the audit report which discovered this misappropriation’.

‘Recently, the entire board of the Runanga social services unit was dismissed, but apart from that’, he continues, ‘no other action has been taken, and no-one has accounted for the money that went missing’.

Mr. Rankin has written to members of the Runanga, but has received nothing but silence: ‘They won’t even acknowledge that there is a problem at both a leadership level and a systems level, and they are refusing to let the people know the contents of the audit report. My fear’, he concludes, ‘is that if the Runanga refuses to be transparent on this matter, what else are they hiding? It should not have to fall to someone like me to keep lifting the lid on these matters’.

The following are the Runanga Chairman’s responses to the questions Mr Rankin put to him:

1. Can he (the Chairman, Mr Sonny Tau) confirm that some funds from the Ngapuhi Social Service arm of the Runanga were spent on a Gay Nightclub, boats and failed tourism ventures?

No I'm sorry he cannot. All he can say is that we commissioned an extensive investigation into the affairs of NISS over the last two years and the matter is now in the hands of the Police. We are unable to comment further for obvious reasons. You may contact Sergeant Ricky Whiu of the Kaikohe Police for further information.

2. Why is the Runanga refusing to release the audit report for the investigation of this matter?

Again this is currently in the hands of the Police.

3. How much money was 'invested' in the GAY nightclubs, boats and failed tourism ventures?

Again for reason stated above we are unable to comment on that particular issue.

4. Does anyone in the Ngapuhi Runanga feel accountable for how the iwi's funds are being spent, and if so, who will stand up and say they are accountable for this incident?

No. This funding is not Ngapuhi's but rather contracts with Government Agencies captured by application and carried out to meet stated outcomes. For your information, all stated outcomes were met to the satisfaction of the funding agencies.

ENDS

© Scoop Media