Tribe boss sacked over 'leak'

DONNA WALSH/Waikato Times

SERIOUS BUSINESS: Tainui chairman Tuku Morgan, left, leaves the ceremony of the Waikato River settlement signing on Thursday with Maori Television reporter Potaka Maipi and his father, Te Arataura member Timi Maipi.

One of Tainui's top men has been sacked after the tribe's executive board decided there was enough evidence to prove he may have breached a confidentiality agreement.

Hemi Rau, who had been the chief executive of the tribe's administration arm, Waikato-Tainui Te Kauhanganui Inc, was accused of breaching the agreement after a story about the restructuring of the Maori king's office was published in the Waikato Times.

Tainui's executive board, Te Arataura, met at the Novotel-Tainui hotel in Hamilton yesterday to discuss Mr Rau's future as the chief executive and subsequently voted to dismiss him, effective immediately.

Mr Rau maintains he did not leak the information and the Waikato Times understands he has filed an interim injunction with the Employment Authority to be re-appointed immediately. The hearing is expected to start next week.

When approached for comment on the subject, Mr Rau said he had not given up fighting to clear his name. "I am looking forward to the truth prevailing," he said.

A source on the board said during the meeting it was disclosed that no private investigator had been hired and all evidence had been collected by the chairman, Tuku Morgan. Mr Morgan declined to comment.

The alleged evidence against Mr Rau includes phone records and statements from Mr Morgan, Te Arataura member Patience Te Ao and Maori Television reporter Potaka Maipi. It centres on claims by Mr Maipi that during a conversation with a Waikato Times journalist he asked if Mr Rau was the source of the information. He says there was a pause, leading him to believe it was Mr Rau.

However, Waikato Times editor Bryce Johns said last night that the newspaper had not revealed its sources for any Tainui stories.

The Times understands Mr Maipi has been suspended by Maori Television and a decision about his future will be made next week. A tribal source said Mr Maipi was set to give up his role with the network.

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