Robin Hapi to retire from Aotearoa Fisheries

Aotearoa Fisheries Limited Announces Retirement of Fisheries Settlement Veteran

Media Statement 07 August 2011

For immediate use

Robin Hapi has announced his retirement as the Chairman of Aotearoa Fisheries Limited (AFL) and will step down from the Board at the end of the September. Mr Hapi announced his decision to iwi last week after he presented a record six month result.

AFL recorded a net profit after tax result of $23.1m and has forecast a record full year profit, and its seventh year of continuous growth in operating earnings. Mr Hapi said he was exceptionally proud of the progress made by the Company since it was established under the Maori Fisheries Act in 2004.

“When we were set up in 2004 many pundits were predicting a disaster. Well we have proved them wrong with year on year growth in earnings. For our September 2010 year we made net profit after tax of $18.9m and paid a $9.4 m maiden dividend.”

Mr Hapi was appointed the Company’s first Chief Executive Officer in 2004 and was appointed as a director and Chair of the Company in 2007.

Matanuku Mahuika, Deputy Chairman of Aotearoa Fisheries Limited, said Mr Hapi had been an outstanding Chief Executive, leading the business through its initial period of consolidation, and he had provided excellent leadership to the Board. “Robin’s long involvement in the fisheries settlement process and deep understanding of the driving forces behind the Aotearoa Fisheries Limited structure made him an ideal inaugural Chief Executive,”

“Under Robin’s leadership, both as Chief Executive and as Chairman, the Company has gone from strength to strength and continues to deliver increased revenue each year,” Mr Mahuika said.

Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited Chairman Matiu Rei said it was hard to overstate the contribution that Robin has made to Maori through 20 years of service to Te Ohu Kaimoana and Aotearoa Fisheries.

“Robin leaves an outstanding legacy of commitment and achievement that sets a high bar for those of us who will carry the Settlement forward, Mr Rei said.” Mr Hapi said he was happy to be leaving the company in good health and in good hands, and after two decades devoted to Maori fisheries is looking forward to doing some new things.

“I have been increasingly involved in education in recent years and I’m really excited about being appointed to the board of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise,” he said.

Ends

Biographical information

1991: Appointed as Chief Executive of the Maori Fisheries Commission (Te Ohu Kai Moana)

Worked on behalf of Maori Fisheries Commission with Maori negotiators on the full and final settlement of Maori claims to commercial fisheries, resulting in the 1992 Deed of Settlement (The Sealord Deal);

Oversaw the delivery of all the assets to the Maori Fisheries Commission (10% of 1989 Interim fisheries settlement) and later to the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission (Te Ohu Kai Moana) from 1992 (20% of all new species under the Sealord Deal).

Between 1991 and 2004: worked to get agreement among Maori for the distribution of more than $700 million of Maori fisheries assets; attended two Privy Council hearings on "What is an Iwi"; prominent role in formulating the final proposal, as outlined in He Kawai Amokura, the Report to the Minister on the Allocation of the Maori Commercial Fisheries Settlement, which ultimately resulted in the Maori Fisheries Act 2004.

Involved in the purchase of Salmon Smith Biolab;

Assisted in bringing BIL into Sealord as a shareholder in 1992;

Represented the Commission in all court proceedings over allocation;

Built the Commission up to a credible organisation

1997: Appointed Director of Sealord Group Ltd

2004: Appointed the first Chief Executive of Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd (AFL)

2007: Appointed Chairman of Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd (AFL)

Current Directorships and positions

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Director

BERL, Independent Chair

Tertiary Education Commission, Commissioner

Te Wananga o Raukawa, Deputy Chair

Massey University, Adjunct Professor, College of Business

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