On 3 July 2022, TVNZ 1News published a news report about Matthew Tukaki.
The New Zealand Māori Council wishes to clarify that Matthew Tukaki has never held a position as its head.
This news report stated that the Government had failed to check Mr Tukaki’s claimed job history before appointing him to government roles and that portions of his job history was inaccurate.
In the news article, the Minister for Children, Kelvin Davis, is quoted as saying that one of the reasons Mr Tukaki’s job history had not been checked was because, “He was also the head of the Māori Council” however Matthew Tukaki has never held a position as its head.
In 2018, Mr Tukaki was appointed to the Auckland District Māori Council. That District Māori Council then appointed him to be one of its three representatives on the New Zealand Māori Council.
Mr Tukaki was later appointed to be one of seven members of an Executive Committee of the New Zealand Māori Council. That Executive Committee was led by a chairperson and a deputy chairperson. Mr Tukaki never held either of these roles.
Late in 2018, Mr Tukaki was contracted by the Executive Committee to a new role for the purpose of reforming the Executive’s administrative systems. That role was given the title of “Executive Director”. However, this role did not include any authority to lead the Council, to make decisions on behalf of the Council, to reach agreements on behalf of the Council, or to speak on behalf of the Council.
Some members of the NZMC expressed concern with the way that Mr Tukaki publicly represented his role in the Council during 2019 and 2020.
In 2021, Mr Tukaki was not re-appointed to the Auckland District Māori Council (which was formally renamed the Tamaki Makaurau District Māori Council). He was therefore also not re-appointed to the New Zealand Māori Council. All aspects of his relationship with the New Zealand Māori Council ceased on 30 April 2021 by virtue of ss 20(3) and 21(5) of the Māori Community Development Act 1962.