From the Chair

Kia ora koutou

I need to advise of changes within our key office personnel, which have come about in recent weeks.

Firstly, in mid-June the Board decided to give notice to our independent contractor Quadrant Solutions Ltd. This company had been providing the services of the Business Support Manager, Natalie Smith. We thank them for their service during their contract. On 7th July, we then received the resignation of Butch (Bradley, CEO). We accepted Butch’s resignation, and agreed to it being effective immediately. In his time with us, Butch put in place some very good systems and procedures, to better enable and position us to move forward. We thank Butch for his service to Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō and wish him well for the future.
 
As an interim arrangement, Tuia Group, a Wellington-based business consulting organisation, have agreed to provide cover for the key parts of both roles, so that we are able to progress important work streams that are currently either being planned or are in progress. Guy Royal, one of the Tuia partners, will be our prime contact, and will work two days per week in the office, with additional support coming from his wider Tuia team if required. Our office team will also provide background and support to Guy as their capacity enables them to do that. I will work with Guy in covering some elements of the role, attendance at hui etc. Guy’s experience and knowledge within the Iwi space and in general will be invaluable and we will also seek his input in to re-defining the two roles before we advertise to fill them.
 
I mentioned last month the possibility of scheduling an SGM on the day of the AGM, to consider and vote on, changes to our PSGE and Charitable Trust Deeds. This was firstly in the light of our Investment Board seeking to prepare to diversify our investment streams, and to ensure that we maintain tax efficiency as they do that, and secondly that if we decide to make that shift, and retain the two Deed set up, that we have them checked, and align clauses where there are currently differences.  We recently sought legal advice on the above and have been given options to consider which would achieve the outcomes. The Deed changes require to be made and voted on, by way of a Special General Meeting. We are currently assessing the timeframes required to schedule the SGM on the same day as the AGM and will send out complete information once the decision to proceed with the changes is made. Full details will then be sent out, detailing the specific changes. A second voting pack will be required, which will also be mailed out.
 
Work on the AGM is well under way, so keep the 3rd September free and come along. The AGM will be held at Omaka Marae, and as for previous years, a whanau day is being planned for Saturday September 2, followed by a hākari on the Saturday evening. I look forward to seeing you there.
 
The Voting procedures for the Trustee elections have now been finalised and the packs including candidate profiles and voting forms, have now been mailed out. Voting can be completed by post (replied paid envelope will be included) or online. The result will be announced at the AGM. If you have  not received your voting pack by July 31, please contact the office. You will have until the August 28 to cast your vote.
 
For some time now, we have talked about employing a Whakapapa specialist, to help us check the records we have and to undertake more research where gaps are identified, to ensure that we build as complete and accurate Whakapapa lists as is possible. I am pleased to advise that Mahara Gilsenan was offered and has accepted the new role, and will start in the office toward the end of July. This is important mahi for the iwi and will simplify the task of validating registrations in the future. It will also create the opportunity to get whanau groups together to feed in to the process and to share some of the relevant information and stories. There will also be a research component associated with the role, to gather together some of the many stories that exist about our tūpuna and about the iwi.
 
The ceremony to vest and gift back the Alpine Tarns occurred in Parliament, on Friday, June 23. It was heartening to hear the korero of Minister Barrie, and her pledge to give support where possible, in the Conservation arena. Kiley organised for a number of our Rangatahi to attend, which was a great experience for them. They were able to perform haka and waiata and they did us proud. Well done to Kiley for the work he has put in to build that capacity. The Minister is also looking forward to joining us later in the year at a celebration, down at the Lakes where we will host an Iwi wide event. Further information on this will be sent out once the arrangements have been finalised.
 
Until next month…

 

Brendon Wilson

Chairman, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Trusts