Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi. Engari, he toa takitini.
Success is not the work of one, but the work of many.
Kono, the food and beverage business of Māori family-owned Wakatū Incorporation, has been recognised as one of New Zealand’s top exporters by taking home two awards at the New Zealand International Business Awards - He kai kei aku ringa for Māori Excellence in Export and Inspiring Preference for New Zealand.
Johnny McGregor, director on the Wakatū board and representative for Te Tauihu on the executive for the Federation of Māori Authorities (FOMA) recently talked to Matt Gifford, Pouarahi Māori at British High Commission.
We are continuing to work on the case against the Crown, following the Supreme Court’s decision in 2017.
We’d like to update you on developments since we talked to whānau during our hui ā-motu in May this year.
We have been focussed on three main areas:
- negotiation
- litigation
- tikanga
Last week saw the launch of a special issue of the New Zealand Law Review focussed entirely on the 2017 Supreme Court decision in relation to Wakatū and the Nelson Tenths’ Reserves. The publication follows on from a one-day symposium organised in February 2018 by the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre for Indigenous Peoples and the Law, which also centered on Wakatū and the Supreme Court’s judgement.
The landmark decision set an important precedent in relation to the Crown’s fiduciary obligations to Māori.
Our Board of Directors sets the strategic direction of Wakatū. The Wakatū board is made up of seven Directors plus one Associate Director, drawn from the Owners of the Incorporation. Appointment on the Board is for a term of three years and is made via an election process by the Owners. Terms are staggered so that some Directors’ terms expire each year, although Directors may stand for re-election.
We are delighted to welcome Dianne Brown (Ngāti Porou) as Programme Manager to lead the implementation of our Whenua Ora programme across Wakatū Group.
Whenua Ora aims to ensure we understand what it means to be good kaitiaki of our whenua and water – and how we can ensure that all of our activities across our organisation achieve this. The focus for the first year of the programme is water, waste, soil and climate change.
Our new Koekoeā magazine is focused on our people and places, our legacy, and the work and activities of Wakatū.
The Sunday 26 May episode of TV3’s current affairs show, The Hui, features an in-depth story about our win in the Supreme Court in 2017 and the Nelson Tenths’ Reserves.
The story focuses on the Crown’s flawed approach to settling the case and what this means for the families of Wakatū.
The episode will be available to view on demand on The Hui website.
On 10 May, the Chair of the Wakatū Board, Paul Morgan (Ngāti Rārua) was recognised at the prestigious University of Auckland Aotearoa Māori Business Leaders Awards.
Paul received the 2019 Te Tohu mō te Kaiārahi Whakahaere Māori – Māori Governance Leader Award.
Our kaumātua and board member Rore Stafford had his investiture as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit at Government House in Wellington this week
Auora, a consumer-focused, health-solutions business will join two other businesses of Wakatū - Kono, our food and drinks business, and Whenua, our property management business.
The Government has announced support for the development of a new intergenerational Regional Growth Strategy for Marlborough, Nelson and Tasman, called Te Tauihu 2077. The application to the Provincial Growth Fund was led by Wakatū Incorporation in partnership with Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council, Marlborough District Council, and the Nelson-Tasman Regional Development Agency.
Each year we hold wānanga for our taiohi, with girls and boys wānanga held in alternate years. This year is the year for our young tamatane (boys) who whakapapa to a Wakatū shareholder, are currently in school, and are aged 13-18 years. The wānanga will take place from Monday 30 September to Friday 4 October in the school holidays.
.All tamatane are encouraged to apply.
Applications close on 31 May. - apply online here
Recently we unveiled two whakapakoko to recognise Wakatū history and connections to two significant sites for the whānau of Wakatū – Nayland College and Kaiteretere. Designed by Rangi Kipa, the two sculptures are part of the recognition of the 40th anniversary of Wakatū Incorporation.
We know that many of you are concerned about what has been happening with the Tasman and Nelson fires, and we thank everyone for their messages of aroha and support.
According to the latest update, weather conditions for the next few days remain benign with warm temperatures and light winds, ideal for fire fighters. However, the fire is not yet contained, and the situation could change very quickly.
Renee Thomas and Matt Kelly have been appointed as the new kaitiaki for the Marahau whenua.
We caught up with Renee to ask her about what the new role means to her and Matt.
Wakatū Incorporation is providing up to two academic scholarships of $10,000 each to go towards the total cost of the Te Tau Ihu based Masters of Māori and Indigenous Leadership programme.
The Masters of Māori and Indigenous Leadership (MMIL) is an applied professional programme that aims to equip the next generation of leaders across a wide variety of sectors with the skills, knowledge, and attributes necessary to advance the aspirations of Iwi Māori and other indigenous peoples, whether it be in a social, cultural, environmental, political, or commercial context. The programme is run by Aotahi - School of Māori and Indigenous Studies, at the University of Canterbury.
Launched in 1998 by Wakatū Incorporation in partnership with two Māori organisations, Tohu Wines is recognised as He mātāmua taketake - the original as the first Māori-owned and operated wine label in New Zealand and the world.
Our Board of Directors sets the strategic direction of Wakatū. The Board is made up of seven Directors plus one Associate Director, drawn from the Owners of the Incorporation. Appointment on the Board is for a term of three years and is made via an election process by the Owners.
Kono, a Māori-owned food and beverage business based in Te Tau Ihu, the top of the South Island, was awarded Te Tupu-ā-Nuku Award for Business and Innovation at Ngā Whetū ō Matariki Awards. The award recognises a Māori business for their contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand’s economy and future.
