From the Chair

Kia ora e te whānau,

I bought my first Christmas present last week, somehow getting to this point seemed so remote given all we have been through over the past eight months. I’m at least thinking about the remaining presents and planning a Christmas dinner menu.

The Trustees have taken advice from the Investment Sub-Committee (Clinton Gapper, Ian Fitzgerald and Paul Hocking) and approved an updated ‘statement of investment policy and objectives’, or SIPO. This is a document that sets out the investment governance and management framework, philosophy, strategies and objectives of a managed investment scheme and its investment funds or portfolios. Amongst other matters, in this instance the Trustees have agreed to more direct investments and the SIPO sets out the parameters for this to happen along with reconfirming the ‘no go’ areas of investment.

Trustees agreed to reorganise the commercial entities of the Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Group. The rationale, amongst other matters was to bring the Group in line with the Trusts, namely a common board. Therefore, the Ngati Apa ki te Rā Tō Asset Holding Company Limited (AHC) directors’ terms ended on October 14, 2020. Trustees agreed that the NAIL directors would become the directors for the AHC.

On behalf of the Trusts, I would like to thank Adrian Wilson and Denis Lander for their contribution to the iwi through their directors’ role on AHC, which managed our fisheries assets.

I’d like to extend the Trustees’ congratulations to Patrick Smith who has been appointed as the Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō representative onto the Iwi Health Board for Nelson Marlborough District Health Board and onto Te Piki Oranga (a kaupapa Māori primary health provider for Te Tauihu o Te Waka-a-Maui). This organisation was set up in collaboration with Nelson Marlborough Health (NMH) and existing Māori health providers.

I understand that the Taiao position was readvertised and I am hopeful that we will have the position filled sometime soon. This will complete our immediate needs in terms of office portfolios.

In terms of business as usual, discussions are ongoing with the land swap, applications for assistance through the various funds has slowed, discussions were held with other top of the South iwi with regards to fishing issues, the iwi are in discussions with DOC around tuatara repatriation, and the National Iwi Leaders forum was held November 4 – 6 at New Plymouth which I attended. Other matters are progressing, and I can update you at a later date.

For students who are currently studying for end-of-year exams, may you go well. You may have heard this many times, but I believe there is some truth in it, “short term pain for long term gain”.

Finally, to those students who intend to apply for an Education Grant or for our Kath Hemi Huia Kaimanawa Scholarship, may I wish you well with your continuing education.

Ngā mihi

Hinemoa Conner,

Chairperson, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Trusts