New Boards As Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Restructures

News Release
For immediate release
June 6, 2012

New Boards As Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Restructures

With the conclusion of its WAI 388 Treaty of Waitangi settlement looming, Auckland iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei has put in place a new organisational structure that will allow it to continue to build its asset base and distribute benefit to the people of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.

Under the old Māori Trust Boards Act of 1955 it was difficult to distribute to whānau members of the Trust unless it was deemed to be for charitable purposes, and ultimate control was with the Crown. As part of the settlement process a new Post Settlement Governance Entity or PSGE is required for all settling iwi to receive the contents of a settlement and allow iwi to be self-governing.

In line with the formation of a PSGE, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei has formed new subsidiary companies and put in place new boards of directors.

The existing 11-person Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei Māori Trust Board will become a nine-person Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust board that will sit above two functional boards – Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa Ltd (asset growth and management) and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Maia Ltd (social and cultural development).

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa Ltd is tasked with building and protecting the commercial asset base. Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Maia Ltd is tasked with re-investing funds emanating from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa in the registered members of the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust. That investment will be focused on improvements in education, health, housing, te reo o Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and cultural development in accordance with the Trust’s strategic plan.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust chairman Grant Hawke says the Trust board has sought a balance in directors between Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei people capable of contributing to prudent decision-making on behalf of their own, and independent directors with the skills and experience to provide wise fiscal and strategic governance.

“We are pleased with the quality of directors we have attracted to these positions. Now the hard work begins as we have a great responsibility to our people, to future generations and to our past generations who suffered much to get us to this point. We need to be honouring them through careful undertakings around these board tables,” Mr Hawke says.

Each board will appoint its own chief executive. Comprehensive induction workshops for all boards will begin in July.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa Board
Rangimarie Hunia (Whanau Director)
Precious Clarke (Whanau Director)
Ngarimu Blair (Trustee Director)
Michael Stiassny (Independent Director)
Rob Fenwick (Independent Director)
Ross Blackmore (Independent Director)

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Maia Board
Dane Tumahai (Whanau Director)
Donna Tamaariki (Whanau Director)
Wayne Pihema (Whanau Director)
Jodi-ann Warbrick (Trustee Director)
Peter Drummond (Independent Director)
Lope Ginnen (Independent Director)
Anita Mazzoleni (Independent Director)

END

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