From the Chair

Tēnā koutou katoa

 

Welcome to winter. I hope the weather where you are is a lot warmer than the weather where I am! Despite that, there are a few things to update you on including the Audit & Risk Sub-Committee, the meeting with the Minister of Treaty Settlements and our Ngāti Waewae relationship.

 

Audit & Risk Sub-Committee

As part of our focus on continuing improvement we have formed an Audit & Risk Sub-Committee of the Trust board. The role of this committee is to focus on key elements of governance such as:

1. The detail of the Statement of Investment Policies and Objectives (SIPO)
2. The letter of expectations between the Trust Board and the Investment Board
3. The Constitution
4. Financial performance

 

Meeting with the Minister of Treaty Settlements

We, along with the other Te Waipounamu iwi, met with the Minister of Treaty Settlements, Hon Chris Finlayson, to discuss how iwi have managed and worked through the post-settlement process.

We covered a number of topics with the Minister, including, SILNA (lands put aside under the South Island Landless Natives Act), Resource Consent processes, economic research projects, opportunities to purchase Crown properties, statutory acknowledgements and relationships with local government.

 

Ngāti Waewae relationship

Last month Francois Tumahi, (Ngāti Waewae Chair) and I met in Westport with members of Coaltown Museum, to consider the appropriateness of their facility to house the taonga recovered from Carter’s Beach, and how we might work together on a joint venture basis.

The next step is for us to meet with Otago University to discuss the release of the taonga, and the overall concept.

Ngāti Waewae are to present a set of agreed protocols regarding our joint relationship in the Kawatiri to their Board for sign off, and are planning a whakapapa hui in Arahura in late August, where we will also sign off the documents.

This is an exciting moment for the two iwi as once signed we will go through a process for selecting Kaitiaki for Kawatiri and arranging training for them.

Keep warm!!

Ngā mihi
Brendon Wilson
Chairman , Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Trusts