Editorial

Tu Tangata, Issue 34, 1 February 1987, Page 21

Editorial

By the time of this magazine being read, disciplinary action may already have been taken against the Secretary of Maori Affairs, Tamati Reedy and Deputy Secretary, Neville Baker for their part in the ‘loans affair \

The governmental policing body, the State Services Commission met on January 20th to decide on action after tabling a report on Christmas Eve which found both the Secretary and his Deputy had displayed serious lack of judgment in handling overseas loan discussions for S6OO million whilst not having authority to do so.

Mr Hunn saw the report by the Ministerial Review Committee on the department as being a key document in any reshaping of Maori Affairs. This review, carried out at the request of Koro Wetere, was given to him sixteen months ago.

Dr Reedy told the Commission the loan money was earmarked for the economic development of the Maori people. The Commission in its report spoke of extenuating factors for the public servants involved and said there was not the slightest doubt over the personal integrity of the two permanent heads concerned. However it said the issue had brought to light some weaknesses in the structure and systems within the Department of Maori Affairs, and it would be reviewing these.

Acting Commission chairman, Don Hunn said the review of the department should not be seen as coming purely from the ‘loans affair’, as it is the ongoing job of the Commission to review the efficiency and economy of departments, including their permanent heads. Mr Hunn told Maori Affairs Wellington staff that such discussions had been underway before the ‘loans affair’. He said this involved looking at Maori Affairs departmental papers over the past two years and talking with people.

Acting Secretary and Maori Trustee, Bruce Robinson told staff that there had not been agreement from the Maori Affairs Minister to implement all the recommendations, though discussions were ongoing. The review came out in favour of corporatising the department. Mr Hunn said the Ministerial Review, completed in September 1985, was the ‘big picture’ of economic development for Maoridom, while the Commission’s role was more one of reviewing procedures on a daily basis.

However the Prime Minister, David Lange has set up a three person panel to advise him on any restructuring needed in the Department of Maori Affairs. Denise Henare, Sir Hepi Te Heu Heu and Kara Puketapu, all former Board of Maori Affairs members, are expected to report to the PM before Parliament resumes in early February.

All these events haven’t been watched idly by Maori people. Apart from messages of support from Maori Affairs staff and other people, the ‘loans affair’ has become a hot topic at hui around the country. Many Maori have felt betrayed by a ‘Pakeha jackup’, of charges of incompetence

being levelled at Maoridom wanting to break out of economic dependence. Some have gone further and spoken of the binding nature of Pakeha rules and regulations which reinforce monocultural dominance. A major hui at Hoani Waititi marae in West Auckland, called for the resignation of the State Services Commission chairman, and a guarantee from the Government that Tamati Reedy and Neville Baker would not be fired. They said the cause of the loans scandal was the refusal of the Government to implement the recommendations of the Ministerial Review Committee. They said that should be done straight away. The Maori people must be consulted before any wholesale restructuring of the Department of Maori Affairs comes about. The Prime Minister’s three member panel has said it will consult with kaumatua before reporting to the PM, but is this enough?

Likewise the State Services Commission has told Maori Affairs staff in Wellington it’ll get back to them with something on paper about the review. Consultation is also taking place with the Board of Maori Affairs, the body statutorily empowered to assist with running the department.

But in the end the Maori people, the client group of Maori Affairs, may well have the least say after all the reviews, overviews and reports have been compiled. The statutory obligations of the Department of Maori Affairs may be seen as ‘having the best structure and organisation to deliver the best service to the Maori people’. I believe that objective is what Tamati Reedy and Neville Baker were working to in negotiating an overseas loan for the development of their people. They were working from the heart.