Grey Power debacle now ‘beyond a joke’

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The war for control of Grey Power Nelson is now “beyond a joke” says the organisation’s national president.

New Zealand Grey Power federation president, Terry King, says Neville Male’s attempt to reinstate himself as a Grey Power member at a special meeting last Friday night is bizarre. 

“To publicly seek reinstatement of his membership indicates that Mr Male had recognised the authority of the present Grey Power Nelson Association management committee, and the outcome of the complaints hearing.”

Last month, Neville, president of Nelson Grey Power at the time, had his membership revoked by the management committee after a disciplinary hearing. 

Friday night was the first time he’s acknowledged that he was expelled, he had previously claimed that he was still the organisation’s president.

Terry says Neville has no association with Grey Power and last week the national federation issued a cease and desist notice for him to stop using the Grey Power name or logo. 

“He has held his own special meeting to get himself reinstated as a member which, even if correct, doesn’t mean he’s automatically president. Or will he call himself another special meeting and declare himself president there?”

Terry says the management committee, led by Kevin Gardener, is the proper committee of Grey Power Nelson.

Neville barred Nelson Weekly from attending his “special meeting” but did issue it with a press release after the event where he said the “large turnout of members reinstated his membership”.

He says his supporters also backed his call to dismiss those on the management committee – which he also did at his last special meeting – and demand a public apology from the New Zealand Grey Power Federation for “interfering” in Nelson Grey Power affairs.

“It has been a very traumatic three months for everyone involved in this unfortunate and totally unnecessary saga, and much damage has been done to the profile of the association along the way,” Neville wrote. 

Acting president of Nelson Grey Power, Kevin Gardener, says the special meeting holds no weight. “The management committee has, throughout the unfortunate debacle, tried to play with a straight bat, to do what’s right for our membership and what has happened? The Nelson Grey Power offices are stormed, computers are removed without authority and we are told that those who took them wanted a membership list.”