Ngāpuhi hapū have established a new council of elders as a means to mend the division currently within the iwi.
The chairman of the newly established council, Kingi Taurua says over 50 members descended on Te Tii Marae in Waitangi yesterday.
“That's the problem. The Rūnanga meets with their own council. Tūhoronuku meets with their own council. Te Kotahitanga meets with theirs, while our wise people, our kaumātua are left watching it all.”
“I want all hapū of Ngāpuhi to get involved so they can provide sound advice on all issues they are passionate about,” says Mr Taurua.
The idea for the council came about after a series of closed meetings held by Ngāpuhi Rūnanga after current chair and former Tūhoronuku chair, Sonny Raniera Tau was allegedly caught with kūkūpa in Invercargill.
Mr Tau is due in the Invercargill District Court on the 18th of August. But the 22-member Tūhoronuku board will appoint a new chair on the 14th of August.
Sam Napia, Tūhoronuku's interim chair, has indicated his interest in the position as Tau remains on the board as a Rūnanga representative.
For the Kaumātua Kuia council however, another meeting is scheduled for next month.