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This week we start the long process of returning to what you’ll get used to hearing as the ‘new normal.’ The last couple of months have been disruptive but I remain proud of how we worked together to protect and support our most vulnerable and to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 across communities in Te Tauihu and Aotearoa.
Tēnā tātou katoa ki ngā whānau whānui o Wakatū
With ANZAC Day on Saturday, and as we head into the final days of Alert Level 4, and move to Alert Level 3, it is a time for reflection, and remembrance.
We remember those that we have lost in previous conflicts, and while the current situation means that we will not be able to attend traditional ANZAC dawn ceremonies together, we can find other ways to commemorate and remember, such as Stand At Dawn taking place from 6am. People can join by standing at their letterbox, front door, lounge rooms or other places while staying within your bubble. You can listen to the official dawn service broadcast commencing at 6am on RNZ National, or via the internet.
You can also join a 40-minute virtual remembrance ceremony to remember our whānau who fought in the 28th Māori Battalion.
The ceremony will start at 9.45 am Saturday 25 April. To join the service via Zoom, click here https://zoom.us/j/91812723793
Issue #2 Ngahuru 2020 of Koekoeā, the magazine for Wakatū is now available online.
In this issue, we take a closer look at the Te Tauihu intergenerational strategy and what it means for our whānau, draw inspiration from our entrepreneurial tūpuna, Tāmati Pirimona Marino, and see that the future is in good hands with our future leaders, our Te Hunga Panuku.
We hope you enjoy reading Koekoeā – and please share this magazine with whānau and friends - the link to the magazine online is here and you can read issue #1 online here
We’d love to hear what you think of Koekoeā and welcome any ideas you have for future stories for the magazine. You can email us with your feedback and ideas at hono@wakatu.org
Tēnā tātou katoa ki ngā whānau whānui o Wakatū
We have now been over three weeks at Level 4 COVID-19 restrictions, and although there are many changes we have had to make, it has also been an opportunity to support each other, as whānau, hapū, iwi and community.
While these last weeks have created enormous stress for many, I’m proud of the way that we have continued to support each other, and have found ways to adapt and innovate.
The current COVID-19 restrictions are both life-changing and life-saving. My thoughts are with all our whānau – in Te Tauihu, across the motū and around the world, who will all be feeling the impact of this pandemic in different ways.
We are now entering into the second week of New Zealand’s Alert Level 4 COVID-19 response.
We know that the current restrictions will be impacting everyone in different ways, and I hope you and your whānau are finding ways to manage and support one another.
I wanted to give you a quick update on how we are going as an organisation.
Later in the week, Paul Morgan, our Chairman, will provide more detailed information about the different ways we are keeping our Wakatū whānau connected and the work that is going on across Te Tauihu, with your whānau, hapū and iwi entities.
Kia ora e te whānau whānui o Wakatū
We know that this is a worrying time for our whānau as we work together to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in our community.
Especially in light of the Prime Minister’s announcement today that we are moving to COVID-19 Level 4 in the next two days, it is important that we continue to keep the wellbeing of everyone, in particular our kaumātua and kuia, and keep manaakitanga, taking care and supporting one other, top of mind, even if we have to find new ways of doing this.
We need to take this situation seriously, and follow the government’s directives.
We are all part of a strong and resilient whānau.
Our focus across Wakatū has been
Being proactive and positive – and looking after each other.
Keeping our whānau as safe, healthy and as well as we can.
Keeping everyone who works for us as safe, healthy and as well as we can.
Keeping our essential businesses, the production of food, running as normally as we can in these extraordinary times.
This is a rapidly changing situation, which is changing daily. I am providing this update as I wanted to let you know the actions we have taken so far. There is a lot of information in this update but in summary, we have been proactive in taking steps to keep our whānau, kaimahi and community safe.
The Kono Ahumahi scholarship is a partnership between Wakatū Incorporation and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT).
The scholarship is aimed at Māori students studying or thinking of studying at NMIT for a career in the aquaculture, horticulture, viticulture and food sectors, or supporting industries such as engineering, automotive engineering, and logistics.
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
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
