Announcement regarding Wakatū Tumu Whakarae

MEDIA RELEASE

12 November 2024

Wakatū CEO Kerensa Johnston steps down; new CEO appointed

Wakatū Incorporation has today announced the resignation of Tumu Whakarae (Chief Executive Officer) Kerensa Johnston, effective 20 February 2025.

Wakatū Board Chair Johnny McGregor said Ms Johnston’s achievements during her eight years in the role were too numerous to list, but acknowledged her leadership through Covid, her strong focus on developing people, her love and care for the whenua and her success in leading Wakatū to a position of financial sustainability, with a clear roadmap for the future.

“Under her care and guidance, we’ve overcome significant challenges and achieved many milestones,” he said. “Her impact on our organisation and the legacy she leaves cannot be overstated.”

Ms Johnston said Wakatū had provided the most significant and rewarding years of her career. “It has been a huge privilege and responsibility to lead our organisation and drive its focus on the wellbeing and economic development of our people, whenua and region. It’s time now for someone new to bring a fresh perspective and renewed energy.”

Going forward, she said she will now be turning her full focus to supporting kaumātua Rore Stafford and his Te Here-ā-Nuku working group to finally resolve the Nelson Tenths litigation against the Crown. 

Joe Hanita appointed CEO; transition plan in place

The Wakatū Board has appointed Wakatū Chief Financial Officer and General Manager Corporate Services Joe Hanita as Ms Johnston’s replacement, effective 21 February 2025.

Mr McGregor said Mr Hanita was an exceptional and experienced Chief Financial Officer, a trusted and respected leader, and a member of the whānau.

“He values service to others, meaningful relationships and the wellbeing of people alongside our organisation’s strong economic performance.”

Mr McGregor said Wakatū was fortunate to have succession planning at its heart, and there was a full and carefully planned transition programme in place to support the change.

END

Success in the High Court

The High Court has today released its decision regarding Stafford v Attorney General.

We are so pleased to let you know that it is a strong decision in our favour.

While there are still outstanding matters to decide, including the details of the award to be made, today’s judgement is ultimately a significant victory for Uncle Rore, the customary owners of the Nelson Tenths Reserves who he represents, and for all of us with a connection to the whenua at the heart of this issue.

It also upholds fundamental property rights that apply to every one of us in New Zealand.

The Te Here-ā-Nuku Working Group will take some time now to process the detail of the decision and decide next steps. We will keep you updated.

Thank you to all of the whānau who have supported this kaupapa, and particularly those who supported the High Court proceedings in Wellington last year.

In the meantime, you can read the full decision of the High Court and the summary decision below.

www.tehereanuku.nz

Annual General Meeting 2024 - Notice of Meeting

Kia ora koutou e te whānau o Wakatū,

We are pleased to share with you that our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Saturday 30 November 2024, 8.30am at the Trafalgar Centre, Paru Paru Road, Nelson.

Our AGM is an opportunity to share with you our work over the last year, as well as our work programme for next year. As well as meeting a-tinana, we’ll also have a password protected online streaming link available to those who can’t attend in person. 

To view the AGM materials, please visit the Owners’ Portal.

Whānau Open Day - Wakatū House

We will have a Whānau Open Day at Wakatū House on Friday 29 November, 11am – 3pm. During the Open Day you’ll be able to tour Wakatū House, purchase our products and merchandise and share kōrero. Wakatū Directors and kaimahi will be on hand to meet and talk with you informally throughout the day. Te Tāhuhu will host whānau whakapapa sessions to help you explore connections to Wakatū and Te Tauihu.

Voting in Wakatū Board elections

There are four ways to vote in this year’s Board elections: online, by post, in-person or by proxy. The introduction of online and postal voting will allow more whānau to take part in the selection of Directors. More information about voting in Board elections in included below.

We look forward to coming together to share an overview of the past year and our plans for the future.

Ngā mihi,

Kerensa Johnston 
Tumu Whakarae - CEO

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Please note: The AGM has been moved to the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson and the hui will start promptly at 8.30am - half an hour earlier than previous AGMs. 

RSVP to Annual General Meeting

We are working towards a goal of achieving zero waste at our events, so for catering purposes please advise how many attendees you wish to RSVP on behalf of for this year’s AGM.

Please RSVP by Monday 11 November 2024 using the RSVP button below.

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Board Elections

This year, Owners will be able to vote in Board elections in one of the following ways:

• In-person

• Online

• By post

• By proxy

Voting online and by post in Wakatū Board elections became available this year following the passing of a Special Resolution at our SGM in Nelson on 11 May 2024.

To ensure our voting process is fair, transparent and secure, the end-to-end delivery of our Wakatū Board elections will be managed by election management services company electionz.com

You will receive your voting packs from electionz.com by email or by post. These will contain a candidate profile document, voting paper and, for the mailed packs, a freepost return envelope. Please keep an eye out for the co-branded envelope and/or email showing both electionz.com and Wakatū logos.

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Special Resolution Voting

Voting for special resolutions can only be done by attending the AGM in-person or nominating a proxy (who is in attendance at the AGM) to vote on your behalf. Please note that in order for your proxy to be valid, your nominated proxy holder must be present in-person at the AGM.

If you are not able to join us in-person for the AGM and would like to vote for the special resolutions, please complete and return your proxy form by 8.30am on Thursday 28 November.

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Registration at the AGM for shareholders

On the day of the AGM, all shareholders will need to register their attendance with Te Tāhuhu - our Owner liaison team. Registration for the AGM is easier if you bring your shareholder number with you.

Everyone who brings their shareholder number with them will go into the draw to win one of two mystery prizes, drawn on the day of the AGM.

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Livestream

If you are unable to attend in person, there will be a livestream available for Owners and whānau to watch. The livestream will begin at 8.30am on Saturday 30 November 2024 and will be password protected so that only Wakatū shareholders and whānau can access it.

If you cannot attend the AGM in-person and would like to access the livestream link, you can register by emailing info@wakatu.org, clicking the button below or calling (03) 546 8648

Please note: you will need a shareholder number to register for the livestream. 

Once you have registered for the livestream you will be sent confirmation with the link details.

Registrations for the livestream must be completed by 8.30am Thursday 28 November 2024.

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Wakatū House Open Day
Friday 29 November 2024
11.00am - 3.00pm

This year we will be hosting an open day at Wakatū House where you will have the opportunity to tour the building and kōrero with the Board and our kaimahi.
 
There is also the opportunity to pre-book a whakapapa session with Te Tāhuhu during the open day. If you would like a one-on-one consultation with Te Tāhuhu to talk about whakapapa, Māori Land Court applications, i.e. succession, whānau trusts, or change of trustees, please email sarah.wilson@wakatu.org to book an appointment. 
 
Our Kono store will also be operating from Wakatū House during the Open Day as well. If you’d like to purchase any Kono Beverages you can pop into the tari throughout the day.

Opportunity for Doctoral Study

Hutihuti e! Ka tau e
Hutihuti e! Ka tau e
Tipatipa kai pae ngā pukepuke
Tuputupu e Nuku
Whitiwhiti e Rangi
Ka hua e Rongo
Ka nui e Rongo ē – auē
E tupu ē

Kia ora e te whānau o Wakatū, 

There is an opportunity for whānau to complete a PhD as part of a five-year MBIE Endeavour project Kai anamata mō Aotearoa co-led by Wakatū Incorporation.

The food system in Aotearoa faces multifaceted challenges. It is imperative that resilient food systems are developed to reduce Aotearoa New Zealand’s vulnerability to changing environmental, economic, and social pressures, while enhancing the wellbeing of people, tangata ora, and the environment, taiao ora.

An MBIE programme – Kai anamata mō Aotearoa – is tackling these challenges. Led jointly by Wakatū and the Riddet Institute at Massey University, the project will develop a computational model of our food system that can describe the broad effects of land use changes on the wellbeing of people – tangata ora - and the environment – taiao ora. In addition, the programme will support Māori-led research including assessment of the food system in Te Tauihu; developing a pathway towards a knowledge-intensive regenerative food system and testing the scalability of current, new, and indigenous species. Mātauranga Māori and western science will come together to accelerate momentum towards climate positive food production systems. The programme will inform evidence-based decisions leading to change that supports a resilient food sector. At the regional level a food system strategy will be developed for Te Tauihu.

About the PhD

In this PhD you will be involved in a research topic aligned with Kai Anamata mō Aotearoa, and the development of a Te Tauihu food systems strategy and related topics. Our food systems strategy should promote high-quality accessible food, the intergenerational health of people and place, the healing of our whenua and the restoration of our waterways. It should detail an aspirational plan to enable local and regional sustainability and resilience in food production and land use.

PhD research could focus on broad or specific areas linked to the food system strategy, for example:

• How to translate tikanga-led regenerative agriculture at a local marae-led scale to a regional strategy?

• How to advance whānau expectations for tikanga-led land-use in a financially sustainable and scalable way?

• What regional scenarios might look like in the future with and without Māori influence (aided by applying the model developed in the programme)?

Alignment of the PhD with case studies at two māra exploring tikanga-led, land-use opportunities with a focus on the scalability of current, new, and indigenous species, implementing tikanga-led farming practices is expected. There will be opportunities to integrate tikanga-led research approaches, which incorporate Māori values and kaitiakitanga, and emphasise holistic, long-term wellbeing for the environment and community with conventional science balancing both perspectives - whilst ensuring indigenous knowledge is prominent.

A PhD stipend of NZ$35,000 per year (for to 3.5 years), full cover of tuition fees, and research support (i.e. travel in NZ and equipment) are provided to the successful applicant, and there may be additional scholarship funds available for suitable applicants.

About you

Ideally, you will:

• have a relevant first-class honour or Master’s degree

• interest in and knowledge of our strategies and programmes surrounding Taiao Ora, Tangata Ora and Whenua Ora are an advantage

• meet PhD enrolment requirements.

There is flexibility in the choice of University that hosts the PhD.

Applications close Friday 1 November 2024.

Please contact Deb Skelton, Pou Tangata on debra.skelton@wakatu.org for further information.

Mārahau Camping Summer 2024-2025

Kia ora koutou e te whānau,

We look forward to welcoming you back to Mārahau this summer and are pleased to announce that bookings are now open.

Mārahau has always offered sanctuary for Wakatū whānau. It’s available for Wakatū Owners to come and enjoy any time, whether on the whenua or holidaying at Haumoana (our bach). 

Summer is our busiest season and there is a limit on the number of camping groups allowed on the whenua. Additionally, bookings from a single shareholder are limited to 20 people per permit.
 
Please note that Mārahau has limited facilities (no power or cooking facilities), so whānau will need to bring everything they need to be relaxed and comfortable. We ask that you use yellow rubbish bags for your waste, which you can find at local supermarkets.
 
Motorbikes are not permitted on the whenua at Mārahau.

If you're interested in camping at Mārahau, please complete the permit form linked below to ensure we know who will be on site at all times.

You can read more about Mārahau on our website here.

Please send completed forms to marahau@wakatu.org. Bookings are open now and will close 9 December 2024 or until fully booked.

Save the date to meet our Board candidates

Kia ora e te whānau

Nominations for the Wakatū Committee of Management (Board) are now closed.

We have received nominations from the following 10 candidates.

1. BABE Lee

2. BANKS Jeremy

3. COLLIER Cyril

4. LAUDER Richard

5. McGREGOR Johnny

6. MORGAN Paul

7. SEYMOUR Lees

8. STEPHENS Miriana

9. TE KANAWA Riria (Missy)

10. TUUTA Jamie

We’re grateful for our candidates’ interest in supporting the work of Wakatū and the development of our whānau.

What happens next?

Further details about the 10 candidates, including profiles and images, will be shared in the coming weeks as part of the Electionz.com voting pack, Notice of Meeting booklet, online Owners’ Portal, and via our social media channels. 

We will also be holding an online Meet the Candidate hui, moderated by Johny O’Donnell, on Thursday 31 October, 7pm. This will be a good opportunity to hear what each candidate has to say, so please save the date. Further details will be shared closer to the time.

Reminder | Board positions at the 2024 AGM

A reminder that this year the terms of three directors (Johnny McGregor, Jeremy Banks and Miriana Stephens) will expire at the 2024 AGM.

In addition to these three seats available by rotation, this year there are also two vacated seats or ‘special vacancies’. These have modified terms with the balance of the original three-year term to be served.   

This means that at the 2024 AGM the following positions are available:

AGM 2024

Annual General Meeting
Saturday 30 November 2024
Trafalgar Centre, Paru Paru Road, Nelson

As you know, at this year’s AGM we are introducing online and postal voting for the first time. This is in addition to our existing in-person and proxy voting methods.

The end-to-end delivery of our Wakatū Board elections will be managed by electionz.com. You can read more about this on our Owners’ Portal

Please keep an eye out for further information on what to expect as part of the voting process.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Kerensa Johnston
Tumu Whakarae

Exciting News - Funding successful for Wetland Project in Motueka

Kia ora e te whānau o Wakatū,

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve secured funding from Wai Māori (Wai Ora Fund) for a wetland restoration project at 188 Staples Street, Motueka. This funding allows us to begin restoring 24 hectares of culturally and ecologically significant land for our whānau.

Known traditionally as Raukūmara, this whenua is part of the original pounamu papakāinga and holds deep cultural significance. After years under Crown lease (1841-1977), Wakatū whānau resumed management in 1977, albeit too many years for the perpetual lease regime to be resolved. Wakatū can now take steps to restore the land in line with the aspirations of our whānau and hapū.

This project aligns with our Whenua Ora Strategy, reconnecting whānau to whenua and supporting our transition to tikanga-led practices across all Wakatū whenua and wai by 2040.

We’re also excited about the potential for collaboration with Whakarewa | Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust, whose adjacent land could expand the restoration efforts to more than 70 hectares, amplifying both the environmental and cultural outcomes.

This project will not only restore precious ecosystems but also reconnect our whānau and community to this wāhi tapu, fostering environmental stewardship and cultural revival.

A big thank you to Wai Māori for supporting this journey. We will share more information as this project progresses - stay tuned for updates.

Ngā mihi,

Johnny McGregor
Chair, Wakatū Board

Reminder: Nominations for Wakatū Board are open

Kia ora koutou e te whānau o Wakatū,

A reminder that nominations for positions on the Wakatū Board (Committee of Management) remain open until Thursday 12 September 2024 at 5pm.

This year the terms of three directors (Johnny McGregor, Jeremy Banks and Miriana Stephens) will expire at the 2024 AGM. All three are eligible for re-election for a further term of office and have confirmed that they will stand for re-election. 

In addition to the three seats available by rotation, this year there are also two vacated seats or ‘special vacancies’. These have modified terms with the balance of the original three-year term to be served.   

This means that at the 2024 AGM the following positions are available:

The Board seats will be allocated according to the number of votes received. This means the three candidates who receive the highest votes will receive the three-year term seats; the fourth-ranking candidate will receive the two-year term seat, and the fifth-ranked candidate will receive the one-year term seat.

We warmly encourage those who wish to stand to support the work of Wakatū and the development of our whānau to apply.

Nominations for candidates for the Committee of Management

• All nominations must be made by an Owner in writing, and signed by both the nominator and the nominee.  

• We have included a nomination form with this pānui. Forms are also available on the Owners’ Portal (www.wakatu.org/owners-portal/ ), by emailing nominations@wakatu.org or by phoning (03) 546 8648. 

• Completed nomination forms must be lodged by 5pm, Thursday 12 September 2024 by emailing nominations@wakatu.org or by posting to Nominations, Wakatū Incorporation, PO Box 440, Nelson 7040.

For further information, including the criteria for those wishing to stand for the Committee of Management, please see our previous communication here.
 
If you have any questions about the nomination or election process, please contact us at korero@wakatu.org

Nominations for Wakatū Board now open

Kia ora koutou e te whānau o Wakatū,

We’re pleased to let you know that nominations for positions on the Wakatū Board (Committee of Management) are now open.

Our Board, comprising of seven elected Directors, sets the strategic direction for Wakatū. Directors are appointed for a standard term of three years. To ensure continuity and stability at the Board level, while also allowing opportunities for the election of new Directors, the expiry of Director terms is staggered.

This year the terms of three directors (Johnny McGregor, Jeremy Banks and Miriana Stephens) will expire at the 2024 AGM. All three are eligible for re-election for a further term of office and have confirmed that they will stand for re-election. 

In addition to the three seats available by rotation, this year there are also two vacated seats or ‘special vacancies’. These have modified terms with the balance of the original three-year term to be served.   

This means that at the 2024 AGM the following positions are available:

We are now calling for nominations for these positions, and warmly encourage those who wish to stand to support the work of Wakatū and the development of our whānau to apply.

Please note, the Board seats will be allocated according to the number of votes received. This means the three candidates who receive the highest votes will receive the three-year term seats; the fourth-ranking candidate will receive the two-year term seat, and the fifth-ranked candidate will receive the one-year term seat.

Criteria for those wishing to stand for the Committee of Management

• The role of a Board member is an important and significant role. Any person considering standing for this role must be aware of the roles and responsibilities of Committee of Management members under the relevant legislation and have the experience and expertise required to govern effectively. Please see the criteria below for those wishing to stand.

Committee of Management members cannot be:

• under the age of 18;

• an undischarged bankrupt;

• subject to a property order under Section 30 or 31 of the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act (or has a trustee corporation managing the person’s property under section 32 or 33 of that Act);

• prohibited from being a director, general partner or promoter under certain statutory provisions, or prohibited from being involved in the management of a company or limited partnership under certain statutory provisions; or

• a person convicted of any offence punishable by imprisonment for a term of 6 months or more (unless that person has served the sentence or otherwise suffered the penalty imposed upon that person).

Nominations for candidates for the Committee of Management

• All nominations must be made by an Owner in writing and signed by both the nominator and the nominee.  

• We have included a nomination form with this pānui. Forms are also available on the Owners’ Portal (www.wakatu.org/owners-portal/ ), by emailing nominations@wakatu.org or by phoning (03) 546 8648. 

• Completed nomination forms must be lodged by 5pm, Thursday 12 September 2024 by emailing nominations@wakatu.org or by posting to Nominations, Wakatū Incorporation, PO Box 440, Nelson 7040.

A reminder that the Board has appointed Electionz.com to manage the end-to-end delivery of our elections, ensuring our voting process is fair, transparent, and secure (online, postal and in person voting).

You can read more about this in the accompanying letter.

You can read more about the Wakatū Board on our website www.wakatu.org/our-people

If you have any questions about the nomination process, please contact us by email korero@wakatu.org or by phone +64 3 546 8648.

If you have any questions about the election process, please contact Electionz.com by email info@electionz.com or by phone +64 3 377 3530.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Kerensa Johnston

Tumu Whakarae

Introduction of online voting at Wakatū AGM

Kia ora koutou e te whānau o Wakatū,

Thank you to all who participated in our two Special General Meetings this year and in particular to those who voted with respect to the Special Resolution regarding the introduction of online and postal voting in addition to proxy and in-person voting for the election of Board members to the Wakatū Board.

The special resolution was passed at our SGM on 11 May in Nelson with strong support.  

Following this, we’ve now appointed election management services company electionz.com to manage the end-to-end delivery of our Wakatū Board elections, ensuring our voting process is fair, transparent and secure.

The AGM is being held on Saturday 30 November 2024 at our new venue - Kono Horticulture, Motueka.

Electionz.com is an experienced and independent election provider. You can read more about them here: https://www.electionz.com/

Getting ready to vote online or by post

Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll share more information about the process of voting online or by post so that Owners feel confident in how online and postal voting works, and how to take part, in advance of November’s AGM. There’s nothing you need to do yet.

Please remember, the introduction of online and postal voting is additional to our existing methods of voting. You are still able to vote in person or by proxy should you prefer.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Nāku noa, nā

Johnny McGregor
Wakatū Incorporation - Chair

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Annual General Meeting 2024 - New venue

Taiohi Wānanga 2024 - Applications Now Open

Tītiro whakamuri, haere whakamua
You know not your future until you know your past

Every year we hold wānanga for our taiohi, with girls and boys wānanga held in alternate years.

In 2024, the Taiohi wānanga is for our kōhine (young women) who whakapapa to a Wakatū Tūpuna, are currently in school, and are aged 13-18 years. 

The wānanga will take place on 30 September 2024 - 4 October 2024 during the school holidays.

The wānanga will be marae-based and includes excursions into the Abel Tasman National Park by water and track.

The wānanga covers

• physical activities such as waka

• leadership

• environmental responsibility

• waiata

• goal setting

• career pathways

• an overview of Wakatū and its associated businesses.

Taking part in the wānanga helps our young people build connections with the whenua, their history, their whānau whānui, and Wakatū Incorporation.

Applications are now open and close on Monday 29 July 2024.

If you have any questions about the application process or the wānanga, please contact Ihaka Griffin-Matthews by email ihaka.griffinmatthews@wakatu.org or  call +64 3 546 8648.

Outcome of Special Resolution | Wakatū SGM – 11 May 2024

Thank you to all of our whānau who participated in our recent Special General Meeting (SGM) held in Nelson on 11 May 2024.  We had a great turnout, in person, online and by way of proxy voting. Thank you to all those who were unable to attend, and instead submitted proxy votes. It is important that all Owners participate and vote in matters relating to your Incorporation. Your voice and vote matter. 

At the SGM held in Nelson on 11 May 2024, we asked our whānau to consider a Special Resolution to approve online and postal voting for the Committee of Management elections.

The purpose of this special resolution is to enable greater Owner inclusion and participation in the decision-making affairs of Wakatū by allowing online and postal voting for our Owners, particularly for those who are not able to attend hui in person.

The Special Resolution put to the SGM was:

“THAT the shareholders approve voting in relation to election to the Committee of Management, to include voting online or by post, as well as in person or by proxy at the Annual General Meeting or any Special General Meeting, and any such vote will be determined on shareholding.”

Voting online and in person would be additional methods to those we currently have in place and would therefore enable greater participation. These methods are also consistent with the practice of other modern incorporations and entities.

Resolution successful

There was significant support for the resolution at the SGM and the resolution was passed. 

The formal results are:

• 158 shareholders voted for the resolution, representing 78.61% of shareholders and 53.5% of the shareholding present or represented by proxy at the meeting;

• 43 shareholders voted against the resolution, representing 21.39% of shareholders and 46.5% of the shareholding present or represented by proxy at the meeting;

• In total, 201 shareholders voted in person or by proxy at the 11 May 2024 SGM

Next steps

The new online and postal voting process will be in place for the 2024 AGM.  Shareholders will still be able to vote in person and by proxy vote.

More information will be shared before the 30 November AGM about voting processes, and how to vote online or by post for those who cannot attend the AGM in person.

Once again, thank you to all who voted at the SGM on 11 May 2024. As a Board, we are pleased that the resolution passed. The participation of Owners is fundamental to the success and progress of Wakatū and we look forward to more Owners being able to have a say with the introduction of these additional methods of voting. 

Ngā mihi,

Johnny McGregor
Chair, Wakatū Incorporation

March SGM in Wellington Recap

Tēnā koutou e te whānau o Wakatū,
 
As you will be aware, we held a Special General Meeting in Wellington in March where we shared a great deal of information and discussed important matters that impact the future direction of Wakatū. This approach was a departure from our usual SGM format, where we would usually provide business updates that can also be found in the Annual Report. This change was made to enhance the Board’s transparency and accountability, a direction we’re committed to maintaining.
 
For our Owners and whānau who couldn’t attend the SGM, below is a brief recap of what was presented:
 

• The changes that have occurred at Wakatū over the last 18 months – what’s taken place, how we got here, and the basis for our decision making.

• The financial performance of the business over the last 20 years and the reasoning for the significant changes to the business over the last 18 months.

• Our five year-plan and the key performance indicators that will guide our work moving forward.

• The changes to our governance and organisational structure that were made to ensure accountability and enhance financial performance.

• Our new investment policy, which will guide all Board investment decisions in the future, ensuring our businesses meet clear performance criteria.

• A new distribution approach for Owners, which includes the dividend policy.

• The Incorporation's future opportunities and challenges, particularly regarding our intergenerational planning framework, Hoea ki Te Pae Tawhiti, our Māori incorporation structure, and our shareholding and decision-making processes, especially regarding Board member elections.

• An update on Te Here-ā-Nuku, the Making the Tenths Whole strategy and our ongoing litigation against the Crown. This included an overview of our time in the High Court last year and the judge’s visit to our rohe.

• An overview of the purpose and responsibilities of Te Pae Manatū, our cultural board.

• Presentations from three members of the Wakatū whānau, which showcased various Manaaki programmes and the positive impact they have had on our whānau.

• A Special Resolution proposed to ensure and promote wider Owner and whānau engagement in the decision-making affairs of Wakatū, by making it easier for shareholders to participate in voting for Board members in Wakatū Board elections via postal and online methods, as well as in-person.

Special Resolution outcome
 
As you may be aware, the Special Resolution did not pass following the request of a poll vote by six shareholders. This meant Owners had to fill out voting forms, which were counted by Election NZ. Due to the amount of time left to count the votes, which is weighted by the number of shares held by a shareholder or whānau trust, we couldn’t announce the results of the vote during the meeting.
 
In our recent pānui on the outcome of the vote, the Wakatū Board stressed their concerns that a small minority of shareholders, holding majority of shares, prevented the Special Resolution from passing. You can read more about the outcome of the Special Resolution here.
 
As such, the Board have called for a Special General Meeting on Saturday 11 May 2024 in Nelson to specifically discuss this issue and present the Special Resolution again for consideration in Whakatū. You can read more about the upcoming SGM here.
 
If you're unable to join us in-person, you can still cast your vote via proxy and have your say on this important decision.
 
If you are an Owner, you should have received your SGM documents, including your proxy form either by post or by email. If you have not received one, please contact Wakatū House on 03 546 8648 or email korero@wakatu.org
 
To submit your proxy form, you can email completed forms to proxy@wakatu.org or post to Wakatū Incorporation, PO Box 440, Nelson 7040, Attn: Proxy Officer.

Completed proxy forms must be returned to Wakatū House by 9.00am on Thursday 9 May 2024.
 
We plan to make the full presentation from the Wellington SGM available to Owners. More information will be provided once the presentation is available to access.
 
Please contact our team at Wakatū House if you have any further questions.
 
Mauri ora,
 
Johnny McGregor
Wakatū Incorporation - Chair

Notice of Meeting - SGM Nelson - Saturday 11 May 2024

Tēnā koutou e te whānau o Wakatū,

Special General Meeting

The purpose of this letter is to advise and provide notice that the Wakatū Board has called a Special General Meeting of shareholders of Wakatū Incorporation to be held at Te Ara Poutama, Nelson Boys College, 67 Waimea Road, Nelson on Saturday 11 May 2024, from 9am – 11am.

The reason for the Special General Meeting is to discuss the Special Resolution set out in the Notice of Meeting booklet. The Special Resolution is designed to ensure greater shareholder and whānau participation in the affairs of Wakatū, specifically the election of Board members to the Wakatū Committee of Management (the Wakatū Board).

The Wakatū Board is concerned that this Special Resolution failed to pass at the SGM held in Wellington on 23 March 2024 due to a small minority of shareholders, holding a majority of shares, preventing the Special Resolution from passing, which would ensure more shareholders can vote in Board elections.

The Wakatū Board has therefore convened the 11 May 2024 SGM to discuss this matter and consider the Special Resolution with shareholders and whānau in Whakatū.

Please click the below link to view the Notice of Meeting Booklet.

We encourage all shareholders and whānau to attend this hui. We hope to see you at the SGM and look forward to having kōrero with you all.

Nāku noa, nā,

Johnny McGregor
Chair, Wakatū

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Proxy Form

If you cannot attend the SGM in Nelson, you can still cast your vote for the Special Resolution via proxy. To assign a proxy, please download and complete the form below.

Please note: Your proxy can be assigned to any person of full age and capacity who is attending the SGM in person, excluding any members of the Committee of Management (Board member).

Completed proxy forms must be received (either by post or by email) no later than 48 hours before the SGM, meaning by 9.00am, Thursday 9 May 2024.

You can post completed proxy forms to Wakatū Incorporation, PO Box 440, Nelson 7040, Attn: Proxy Officer, or email to proxy@wakatu.org

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Registration for shareholders

On the day of the SGM, all shareholders will need to register their attendance with Te Tāhuhu - our Owner liaison team. Registration for the SGM is easier if you bring your shareholder number with you.

If you don’t know your shareholder number, please get in touch before the SGM by phone 03 546 8648 or by email.

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Venue Details

The SGM in Nelson will be held at Te Ara Poutama at Nelson Boys College. Below is a map of the school grounds with markers pointing out where the whare is located, entrance to the college, street parking and kaumātua parking.

Please note that the entrance to the school ground is located off Hampden Street as highlighted in yellow on the map.

There is limited parking at the school but there is street parking around the grounds, which are marked in green.

We will have kaumātua parking available on the school grounds, which is marked in blue.

SGM - 24 March 2024 - Outcome of Special Resolution and Next Steps

Kia ora koutou e te whānau o Wakatū,

Outcome of Special Resolution, Wakatū SGM, 23 March 2024

At our Special General Meeting (SGM) held in Wellington on 23 March 2024, we asked our whānau to consider a Special Resolution to approve online and postal voting in relation to the election of Board members to the Wakatū Committee of Management (the Wakatū Board).

We had previously discussed this issue at the 2023 AGM in Nelson and the feedback received was that the process for voting in elections should be as simple and accessible for shareholders as possible.

The Special Resolution presented to the SGM in Wellington on 23 March was:

“THAT the shareholders approve voting in relation to election to the Committee of Management, to include voting online or by post, as well as in person or by proxy at the Annual General Meeting or any Special General Meeting, and any such vote will be determined on shareholding.”

Rationale for the Special Resolution

The rationale for the Special Resolution is to ensure and promote wider shareholder and whānau engagement in the decision-making affairs of Wakatū, by making it easier for shareholders to participate in voting for Board members in Wakatū Board elections via postal and online methods, as well as in-person. The Board is supportive of ensuring as many shareholders as possible can vote in our Board elections.

Our current voting process means that only those present in person at the SGM or AGM (or those who submit proxies) can vote for the election of Board members.

Under the Special Resolution, both in-person and proxy methods of voting would remain in place. Voting online and by post would be additional methods and would enable greater participation for our shareholders. Providing for online and postal voting is also consistent with the practice of other modern Māori incorporations and entities.

If the Special Resolution was approved, the intention was that the new voting process would be in place for the 2024 AGM to be held in Nelson.

Special resolution unsuccessful

Despite a clear majority support for the Special Resolution at the SGM, it did not pass.

Approximately 90% of Owners present at the SGM voted in a show of hands in support of the Special Resolution. Voting by a show of hands has been our usual practice and method for voting on special resolutions for the past 47 years. It is also what is provided for as the first method of voting, under the Māori Incorporations Constitution Regulations 1994. A show of hands is counted as one owner, one vote.

However, following voting by a show of hands at the SGM, a poll vote* was demanded by six Wakatū shareholders. A poll vote can be called for by five or more shareholders (or those with no less than 10% of the shareholding). This meant the resolution had to be decided on the basis of voting according to shares held, rather than a show of hands as is our usual practice.

The results

The Special Resolution was defeated based on the poll vote (voting according to shares held).  The formal results are:

In total, 108 shareholders were present and voted at the 23 March 2024 SGM (or submitted proxies). This represented 23% of the total Wakatū shareholding (or 2,458,164 shares of a total 10,442,592 shares).

• 96 shareholders voted for the resolution (930,690 shares or 38% of the shareholding vote)

• 12 shareholders voted against the resolution (1,527,474 shares or 62% of the shareholding vote)

Why this result is of concern

Fewer shareholders have the opportunity to vote in Wakatū Board elections.

The Wakatū Board is concerned that at the SGM, a small minority of shareholders, holding a majority of shares, prevented a special resolution from passing, which would ensure more shareholders can vote in Board elections.

This result is concerning for the following reasons: 

• At the SGM, a number of shareholders spoke in support of the resolution. The vast majority (90%) voted for the resolution by a show of hands, before the poll vote was demanded.

• At its heart, the special resolution is simply about providing more shareholders with the ability to vote and participate in Board elections. That is the right of all Wakatū shareholders.

• Those shareholders that voted against the special resolution effectively voted against more shareholders being able to have a say in the affairs of Wakatū and specifically in the election of new Board members, which is a critical decision that rests with all shareholders.

• Board members play a crucial role in determining the direction and values of our organisation. It is important that all shareholders are able to participate in the voting process for the election of Board members, regardless of whether they are able to attend the SGM and AGM in person.

• We have had feedback that it is difficult for some whānau to attend SGMs and AGMs in person, for financial and other reasons. We want to ensure that all our shareholders have the right to vote and can participate via online and postal methods – and that this right is not just for those who are able to attend an SGM or AGM in person.

• Providing greater choice in the way shareholders can have a say in our election processes is best practice for modern organisations. Without this resolution, Wakatū fails to stay in step with modern and best practice.

• We know that many of our younger shareholders prefer to vote online or by post. As an intergenerational organisation, we need to ensure we understand and include their voices in our decisions. We believe that without the ability to vote online or by post, our younger and future whānau, as well as those whānau who live remotely are less likely to participate.

Next steps

It is important to us that all shareholders, regardless of whether they can attend meetings in person, are able to participate and vote on important matters such as the election of Board members, via online and postal methods as well as in person.

For this reason, we have convened a Special General Meeting (SGM) on Saturday 11 May 2024, to be held 9am-11am at Te Ara Poutama, Nelson Boys College, 67 Waimea Road, Nelson, specifically to discuss this issue and to present the Special Resolution again for consideration in Whakatū (Nelson). We believe this is an important kōrero to have with our Owners and whānau in Whakatū.

We will also be able to provide those present with a general update and use this as an opportunity for further kōrero on Incorporation matters.

Please see the Notice of Meeting, which sets out the details relating to the forthcoming SGM.

Ngā mihi nui,

Johnny McGregor
Wakatū Board – Chair

* Under Māori Incorporation regulations, it can be demanded that voting is counted by way of shares. This is called demanding a poll. This demand must be made by at least five people at the meeting with a right to vote, or by voters with at least one-tenth of the total votes. For more on this process, visit: MLC-incorporations-english.pdf (xn--morilandcourt-wqb.govt.nz)

Our Commitment to Whānau

Kia ora koutou e te whānau o Wakatū,

This email is the third in a short series of pānui, videos, and social media in the lead up to our Special General Meeting (SGM) on Saturday 23 March, in Wellington.

It complements a printed booklet, ‘Wakatū Incorporation and your role as a shareholder,’ that you’ll receive in the post alongside other SGM materials in advance of the meeting.

Please keep an eye out for these materials and let us know at any time if you have any further questions or would like more information.

Our Commitment to Whānau

As an organisation, Wakatū is committed to the cultural, social and economic development of our whānau as a collective, strong in their identity as Māori.

This is why we invest in the development and capability of our whānau, via educational, cultural and other development programmes.

Connected to this work are our succession programmes, which are designed to ensure our whānau can lead, govern and manage our organisation consistently with our values and tikanga.

These are in addition to opportunities for development and advancement via various networks that are led by Wakatū. For example:

• Te Hunga Panuku alumni programme - this promotes the development of our wānanga and scholarship participants over time and ensures we have the capability we need to govern and manage our organisation.
   

• The Karioi programme and its network of whānau participants, which is designed to ensure food security, knowledge and resilience for whānau
   

• Te Rākau Pakiaka, our whakapapa and tikanga programme. This is designed to ensure our cultural knowledge and capability is strong and is retained through the generations.

There is no cost to whānau to attend our wānanga, which are available to whānau who whakapapa to the land, regardless of whether they hold shares or not.

You can find out more information about these opportunities at www.wakatu.org and on our social media channels where we regularly promote them.  

Ngā mihi maioha,

Johnny McGregor
Wakatū Incorporation - Chair

The Board Election Process

Kia ora koutou e te whānau o Wakatū,

Following my recent email regarding the history and structure of Wakatū, in this pānui, I would like to share some information about the election process for new Board members.  

This is in response to feedback and questions we received from Wakatū shareholders and whānau about the AGM 2023, the election, and its outcomes.

This email is the second in a short series of pānui, videos, and social media in the lead-up to our Special General Meeting (SGM) on Saturday 23 March, in Wellington.

It complements a printed booklet, ‘Wakatū Incorporation and your role as a shareholder,’ that you’ll receive via email or post alongside other SGM materials in advance of the meeting.

Please keep an eye out and let us know at any time if you have any further questions or would like more information.

Ngā mihi maioha,

Johnny McGregor
Wakatū Incorporation - Chair

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The Election Process for New Board Members – Key Points

As a Māori Incorporation, Wakatū is regulated and guided by the provisions of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 and the Māori Incorporation Regulations. These determine the processes and rules of our Board elections. 

• Our Board (Committee of Management) is made up of seven members, called directors: https://www.wakatu.org/our-people

• Owners nominate and elect Board members on an annual basis. Nominations for new Board members are made in writing, signed by the Owner making the nomination and accepted in writing by the person nominated.

• Under Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993, anyone can be appointed or elected to the Committee of Management. A member does not need to be a shareholder in the Māori incorporation or a member of the whānau, but they must be nominated by a shareholder.

• When an election is held, Owners cast a vote for their chosen nominee and votes are weighted according to each Owner’s shareholding.

• Owners vote either as individual shareholders or as a whānau trust. Noting that one person or one trust may have several shares and their vote is weighted according to their shareholding.

• Where an Owner is a whānau trust, the trustee votes on behalf of the whānau trust, according to their shareholding.

• Once elected, directors hold office for up to three years. The terms of two or three directors expire each year, but the directors can stand for re-election. If the directors stand for re-election and no other nominations are received then there is no election held.

• The role of the Board member is important and significant. Any person considering standing for this role needs to be aware of the roles and responsibilities of directors under the relevant legislation and have the experience and expertise required to govern effectively. Further information is available at the Institute of Directors New Zealand: www.iod.org.nz  

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Board Chair Johnny McGregor introduces the special resolution proposed at the Special General Meeting

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Join us at the Wakatū Special General Meeting

Date and time: Saturday 23 March, 9am (registrations open 8am)
Location: Tākina (new events centre opposite Te Papa), Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington

We welcome all shareholders and whānau to attend the SGM. To help us with our planning, we ask that everyone attending the SGM submit their RSVP by Friday 8 March 2024 by clicking the RSVP button below:

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Registration for shareholders

On the day of the SGM, all shareholders will need to register their attendance with Te Tāhuhu - our Owner liaison team. Registration for the SGM is easier if you bring your shareholder number with you.

Everyone who brings their shareholder number with them will go into the draw to win one of two mystery prizes, drawn on the day of the SGM.

If you don’t know your shareholder number, please get in touch before the SGM by phone 03 546 8648 or by email.

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Wakatū Incorporation - Special General Meeting 2024

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Ka rere te reo mihi ki a koutou te whānau whānui o Wakatū.

We are looking forward to the Wakatū Special General Meeting (SGM) in Wellington on Saturday 23 March 2024 at a new venue - Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Please come along for our report on the past financial year, and to learn more about the different initiatives underway for 2024. Our team will be there to answer any questions you may have about Wakatū, including whakapapa, your connection to Wakatū and our development and Manaaki programmes for Wakatū Whānau. 

We look forward to seeing you there.

Ngā mihi maioha,

Kerensa Johnston 
Tumu Whakarae - CEO

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RSVP required to attend the SGM

We welcome all shareholders and whānau to attend the SGM. To help us with our planning, we ask that everyone attending the SGM submit their RSVP by  Friday 8 March 2024 by clicking the RSVP button below:

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Registration for shareholders

On the day of the SGM, all shareholders will need to register their attendance with Te Tāhuhu - our Owner liaison team. Registration for the SGM is easier if you bring your shareholder number with you.

Everyone who brings their shareholder number with them will go into the draw to win one of two mystery prizes, drawn on the day of the SGM.

If you don’t know your shareholder number, please get in touch before the SGM by phone 03 546 8648 or by email.

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Proxy Forms

If you cannot attend the SGM, you can still vote for the special resolution via proxy. You will need to complete the proxy form and send it back to Wakatū.

Completed proxy forms must be received (either by post or by email) no later than 48 hours before the AGM, meaning by 9.00am, Thursday 21 March 2024. Post completed proxy forms to Wakatū Incorporation, PO Box 440, Nelson, 7040 or email proxy@wakatu.org

Wakatū Incorporation: History and Structure as an Incorporation

Kia ora koutou e te whānau o Wakatū,

Thank you to all who attended our AGM 2023, held in Whakatū, Nelson in December. Thank you also if you voted in-person or by proxy in the Board election process.

Following our AGM last year, we received feedback and questions from our shareholders and whānau about the AGM 2023, the election, and its outcomes. In the coming weeks, we'll share information about our history, structure, and purpose as an organisation. We'll also explain how our shareholding framework works, and outline your rights and responsibilities as an Owner.

This email is the first in a short series of pānui, videos, and social media in the lead-up to our Special General Meeting (SGM) on Saturday 23 March, in Wellington.

It complements a printed booklet, ‘Wakatū Incorporation and your role as a shareholder,’ that you’ll receive via email or post alongside other SGM materials in advance of the meeting.

Our aim is to help Owners understand the structures and processes that inform Wakatū and to encourage increased participation in the SGM and future meetings. This may be by attending and voting in-person, or registering and casting a proxy vote.

Please keep an eye out and let us know at any time if you have any further questions or would like more information.

Ngā mihi maioha,

Johnny McGregor
Wakatū Incorporation - Chair

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Our History and Structure: Ten Key Points

1. Wakatū was incorporated as a Māori incorporation in 1977. Māori incorporations are a way for multiple owners of Māori freehold land to manage and care for their land collectively. The structure of a Māori incorporation is similar to a company – it has shareholders and a legal identity separate from the individual owners.

2. We became an incorporation following a vote by our Owners in 1976. Before then, a Crown-appointed trustee had managed the remnants of the Nelson Tenths Reserves and Occupation Lands. In 1976, when the Government agreed to return the remnants, the customary Owners were given the choice of becoming an incorporation or a trust, or to leave the administration of the land in the hands of the Crown-appointed Māori Trustee. The majority of Owners voted in favour of establishing an incorporation.

3. An incorporation is a legal structure – one of only two legal structures that was available to us under the law in 1977. While it has its advantages and disadvantages, ultimately our whānau chose this structure as they believed it was the best option for them to be in control of their own destiny, under the current law and policy framework.

4. As an Incorporation, Wakatū is regulated and guided by the provisions of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 and the Māori Incorporation Regulations.

5. When Wakatū was incorporated, we took control of a total of 1393.72 hectares of land, covering 752 leases. This land represented two parts of the customary estate – the remnants of the Nelson Tenths Reserves and the remnants of the Occupation Reserves.

6. The landowners were allocated shares equivalent in value to the interest they owned in the land in 1977. In that way, they became shareholders.

7. From 1977 onwards, people could also acquire shares in Wakatū and other Māori incorporations by buying them. This was allowed by Māori land legislation. For this reason, the shareholdings of Māori incorporations, including Wakatū, do not always reflect whakapapa, tikanga and the interests of the customary Owners.

8. From 1993, as a result of changes to Māori land law and the enactment of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, the practice of buying and selling shares in Māori land was restricted to specific classes of people. This change came about to prevent people with no whakapapa or tikanga relationship to the land from becoming owners of that land with decision-making authority.

9. Today, a core principle of Māori land law, or tikanga, is that the ahi kaa, or owners of land with decision-making authority, are those who whakapapa to the land, with rights and responsibilities based in tikanga.

10. The total number of shares in Wakatū is 10,442,592. We currently have around 4,570 Wakatū Owners. The number of shares never changes, however the number of Owners changes as the number of descendants grows and increases significantly with each generation.

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An Invite to our SGM from Johnny McGregor, Chair of the Wakatū Board

Join us at the Wakatū Special General Meeting

Date and time: Saturday 23 March, 9am (registrations open 8am)
Location: Tākina (new events centre opposite Te Papa), Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington

We welcome all shareholders and whānau to attend the SGM. To help us with our planning, we ask that everyone attending the SGM submit their RSVP by 
Friday 8 March 2024 by clicking the RSVP button below:

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Registration for shareholders

On the day of the SGM, all shareholders will need to register their attendance with Te Tāhuhu - our Owner liaison team. Registration for the SGM is easier if you bring your shareholder number with you.

Everyone who brings their shareholder number with them will go into the draw to win one of two mystery prizes, drawn on the day of the SGM.

If you do not know your shareholder number, please get in touch before the SGM by phone 03 546 8648 or by email.

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Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre

This year our SGM will be at Tākina Wellington Exhibition and Convention Centre located at 50 Cable Street, Wellington, which is directly across the road from Te Papa on Cable Street. 

The meeting will be in the Tāwhirimātea Room on Level 2. The main entrance to the building is on Cable Street but you can also enter from Wakefield Street.

There is no parking at Tākina, but there is the Te Papa carpark across the street and an outdoor carpark outside the old Reading Cinemas building on Wakefield Street.

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Staying Connected

Are all your whānau getting information about Wakatū? Please make sure you share the information in this pānui with your whānau connected to Wakatū.

We encourage everyone connected to Wakatū to join our e-pānui list and to follow us on www.facebook.com/Wakatu.

That way we can keep everyone in touch with opportunities such as scholarships, wānanga, news about our whānau whānui, and Whenua, Kono and AuOra, your businesses.

To join our e-pānui list, email info@wakatu.org with your name and email address, using E-pānui in the subject line.

If you have changed your postal address, email or bank account, please email LeeAnne Hawea Te Hira or call 03 546 8648 and ask for Lee-Anne.

Introducing our Mārahau Kaitiaki

Michael and LaToya Piggott.
Photographer: Virginia Woolf

Mārahau holds a special significance for our whānau, tracing our connection back to the arrival of our tūpuna in Te Tauihu in the early 1800s. Originally part of the wider papakāinga, the land and foreshore area at Mārahau was reserved for the benefit of the Māori customary owners as part of the Nelson Tenths’ Estate in 1845. The land at Mārahau was vested in Wakatū in 1977 and has been managed by the Committee of Management (the Wakatū Board) on behalf of the Owners ever since.

Nestled at the southern gateway of the Abel Tasman National Park, where the land meets the sea, our Mārahau whenua provides space for Wakatū whānau to camp and offers exclusive access to a private beach. Additionally, Haumoana (our bach) is also available to whānau to book.

Looking after our whenua is Michael (Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa) and Toya Piggott (Waikato) who were appointed as our new Mārahau Kaitiaki earlier this year. Sharing a mutual love for the moana and whenua, as well as a back-to-basics approach to life, the couple jumped at the chance to become the new Kaitiaki when the role became available. 

“We’re excited to take on this role,” says the pair.

“We have a love for the moana, our whenua and we look forward to welcoming whānau back this summer.

Before stepping into their roles, Mārahau was already a special place for the pair. It was where their whānau would picnic, play on the beach, swim, flounder and collect cockles. Toya says the moana was their connection, and the peacefulness of Mārahau reminded her of Kāwhia.

“It uniquely looks like Kāwhia moana, which I believe is why our people came here and settled when they left Kāwhia because it was similar to where they had come from.”

When asked what they’re passionate about, Toya speaks of her love for mahi toi, the art of creating with her hands. Whether it's cultivating native trees and rongoā (traditional Māori medicine) to nurture the land or growing kai (food) for their family, her creativity finds expression in the natural world. Michael, on the other hand, is passionate about fishing, gardening and being able to share sustainable living practices with whānau.

Mārahau has limited facilities says both Michael and Toya “staying on the whenua is a back-to-basics lifestyle so come with what you need to be relaxed and comfortable.” There’s no power, no cooking facilities, no showers, but there will be port-a-loos available. At Mārahau you have the opportunity to step away from the hustle and bustle and immerse yourself in nature, which is part of the magic of the place.

If you’ve never been to Mārahau, Toya and Michael invite you to come and experience our beautiful whenua for yourself. Here, whānau can expect to reconnect with their loved ones, rediscover themselves, and forge a bond with the moana and whenua.

Whānau can camp at Mārahau or book Haumoana (our bach) throughout the year – all you need is a Expression of interest (EOI) which you can download from our website. Summer is a popular time and there is a limit to the number of whānau who can be on the whenua, as such EOI for the summer camping season must be in by December 10.

You can apply to camp on the whenua here and book Haumoana here.