3 Apr 2012

New Waikato-Tainui executive head stamps out tribal rows

7:11 pm on 3 April 2012

The new chairperson of the Waikato-Tainui executive, Tom Roa, is vowing to stamp out tribal infighting, saying it's not the way forward.

Over the past couple of years, disagreements between the executive, Te Arataura, and the parliament, Te Kauhanganui, have played out in public.

In 2010, the Maori King sacked the head of parliament Tania Martin for criticising a Te Arataura report.

She was later reinstated after seeking an injunction from the High Court, and a bitter feud ensued between Ms Martin and the former chair of the executive, Tukoroirangi Morgan.

The new chairperson says both Te Arataura and Te Kauhanganui aim to work together to better the iwi.

Mr Roa says the executive has talked about the infighting.

He says it will follow tikanga Maori in order to make decisions through consensus and if that doesn't work it will vote on a matter.

Mr Roa says Te Arataura has assured the tribal parliament that legal redress will be the absolute last resort.