From the Chair

The interim arrangement for the coverage of the CEO role is now in place and is working well. Guy Royal has had a busy initial period planning for the AGM, which included finalising the preparation of the Annual Report, and incorporating the Special General Meeting planning and detail once the Board made the decision to proceed with the Deed changes. This was a huge piece of work and sat alongside the strategic challenges we had also placed on him. We intend to draw on Guy’s experience and knowledge in reviewing the current CEO role to determine whether the position description remains relevant, or whether we should amend it, before we work through the process of finding a permanent replacement.

You will by now have received information on a Special General Meeting, which we will now hold immediately prior to the AGM on September 3. The proposal is that the current Charitable Trust and Post Settlement Governance Entity Deeds be amended, firstly to enable the capitalisation of the Investment Company, secondly to properly align a number of Clauses within the two Deeds where there are currently differences, and thirdly to tidy up such aspects as the quorum for Trust meetings and the Ngāti Apa representation on the Commercial Board. The information packs include voting papers and instructions for online voting if that is your preference – please contact the office if you have not received yours.

Preparation and planning for the AGM is progressing well, including the activities for the whanau day on Saturday, September 2, and the hākari that evening. If you are able to come along for the weekend, I would encourage you to do so and look forward to seeing you there. There are a good number of applicants for the four vacant Trustee positions, and I wish those applicants all the best. The Trustee role is extremely important and carries with it a high level of responsibility. I pass on my thanks to all applicants for being prepared to put themselves forward for election this time around.

After our July Board meeting, the Trustees were privileged to be invited to a presentation by our rangatahi, who had attended the week-long Mana Rangatahi wananga. During the presentation, we were shown some of the elements they had learned during the wananga. It was impressive to see how well the rangatahi had embraced their cultural journey and how they are developing. Well done to Kiley for the progress to date, and to the team he is building around him in the creation and rolling out of this programme. 

Work with other Te Tauihu Iwi is also progressing; we are currently examining and developing Taonga Tuturu protocols, working collaboratively with DoC on environmental matters where we all have an interest, and agreeing on the terms of reference for our relationship with the Marlborough, Nelson, and Tasman Mayors. While progress with Ngati Waewae has been slow to date, we will be meeting with them again in late September to progress a number of matters which we have been discussing with them.

See you at the AGM.

Nga mihi,

Brendon Wilson

Chairperson, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Trusts