Maori language chief stands down

PHIL REID/The Dominion Post

HUHANA ROKX: Upset staff with her management style.

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Maori Language Commission chief executive Huhana Rokx has resigned after an investigation over concerns about her management style.

The Dominion Post reported in November that a dispute between Ms Rokx and her staff prompted the board to order an investigation.

The independent inquiry, conducted by Sir Wira Gardiner, began after some staff wrote to the board expressing concerns about her management style.

After the investigation, Ms Rokx and the board entered mediation, which was completed last week.

Board chairman Erima Henare said yesterday Ms Rokx had informed the board that it was "timely for her to stand aside to make way for a fresh approach".

"This was an honourable response to difficult circumstances faced by the [chief executive], the staff and the board," Mr Henare said.

Papers obtained by The Dominion Post said staff members fluent in Maori used this ability to "show superiority" over their colleagues. There were at least two meetings between management and staff aimed at resolving the problems.

One employee noted that, after one of these meetings, staff did not feel trusted and found their work environment suffocating.

Mr Henare appointed Ms Rokx to the chief executive's job from a field of 14 candidates in February 2007. She will finish in the role this Friday.

Before her appointment, Ms Rokx, who is paid between $130,000 and $160,000 a year, was a kohanga reo teacher and Maori publishing manager at Learning Media Ltd.

A spokesman for Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples said the minister would not comment on employment matters.