Post by Kiwi Frontline on Aug 6, 2016 17:02:08 GMT 12
TONGA FORESTRY DEAL WITH NORTH ISLAND IWI CAUSES GROWING CONCERN
Concern is mounting over a multi-million dollar forest deal in Tonga between the Kingdom's Government and a central North Island iwi.
Tonga's state-owned forestry business has been debt ridden for years until Tahu Whaoa signed a deal to bail it out last month.
It has already covered the Government's debts of over $NZ2.6 million and has agreed to pay a further $NZ3.5 million in return for the control and management of the forest company for 50 years.
But Mr Pikia, who is instrumental in the deal, is himself under the spotlight.
Three years ago, a High Court judge found he had taken his grandmother's land in actions that could be described as a fraudulent breach of trust.
Now he faces pressure from unhappy iwi leaders pushing for an investigation into financial management of a Te Arawa Trust he chairs.
ongan Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva, currently in New Zealand, says he is disappointed more due diligence wasn't done by his Government before the deal was signed.
He will be discussing the matter with his cabinet when he returns home....
www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/tonga-forestry-deal-north-island-iwi-causes-growing-concern
Concern is mounting over a multi-million dollar forest deal in Tonga between the Kingdom's Government and a central North Island iwi.
Tonga's state-owned forestry business has been debt ridden for years until Tahu Whaoa signed a deal to bail it out last month.
It has already covered the Government's debts of over $NZ2.6 million and has agreed to pay a further $NZ3.5 million in return for the control and management of the forest company for 50 years.
But Mr Pikia, who is instrumental in the deal, is himself under the spotlight.
Three years ago, a High Court judge found he had taken his grandmother's land in actions that could be described as a fraudulent breach of trust.
Now he faces pressure from unhappy iwi leaders pushing for an investigation into financial management of a Te Arawa Trust he chairs.
ongan Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva, currently in New Zealand, says he is disappointed more due diligence wasn't done by his Government before the deal was signed.
He will be discussing the matter with his cabinet when he returns home....
www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/tonga-forestry-deal-north-island-iwi-causes-growing-concern