Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Claim Maori Council not consulting some members

Updated at 9:15 am on 13 August 2012

Claims have been made that the Maori Council's South Island committees were not properly consulted about changes to the organisation.

The council has recently revamped its executive line-up, creating two co-chair positions for Maanu Paul and Sir Eddie Durie - and making Sir Graham Latimer president.

But Ngai Tahu chairperson Mark Solomon says he has heard that some branches weren't told about the changes. He says he has had phone calls from chairmen in the South Island who say they were not part of the council's decision to create new executive positions.

Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka A Maui district chairperson Harvey Ruru says he wasn't at an important hui in Rotorua in June to reorganise the executive.

He says he was invited to attend but the meetings have always been held in Wellington - usually with full attendance by council representatives from throughout the country.

Mr Ruru says a number of those representatives weren't at the Rotorua meeting, so no majority decisions were made.

The Maori Council couldn't be reached for comment.

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