June 09, 2015
Legal actions put Kohanga Reo in red
Suggestions Maori Television had spiked another story on Te Kohanga Reo National Trust may prove unfounded, with the channel announcing it will run an interview with ousted board member Toni Waho on Native Affairs next Monday.
Alleged management interference in the programme’s coverage of the trust had been cited as a factor in the departure of front person Mihingarangi Forbes.
News and current affairs head Maramena Roderick says it is valid to consider what has occurred and it is also important to ask what is happening now and into the future with the body that provides most of the Maori medium early childhood education.
Mr Waho was removed from the board last year after he told Education Minister Hekia Parata she had not been given the whole story about allegations of questionable spending and mismanagement.
He is still going through the courts to overturn the allegation he brought the trust into disrepute, which was the reason used to dismiss him from the board.
Te Kohanga Reo National Trust accounts for the year ending December 31 show that last year the board spent $1.5 million in professional fees, which it says were mostly legal expenses relations to the investigations of 2013 and 2014.
That contributed to a $1.9 million loss for the year.
In 2013 there was $1.2 million spent on lawyers and a $1.1 million loss.
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