Statement from Paul Quinn, Chair of White Island Tours Limited

media

Status: For immediate release

Date: 11 December 2019

Statement from Paul Quinn, Chair of White Island Tours Limited:

“First and foremost, we would like to express our sorrow and offer condolences to those who have lost their loved ones following the eruption on Whakaari / White Island on Monday.

At this stage, recovery of loved ones who are still on the island is of paramount concern and all of our resources including vessels, protection equipment and personnel have been made available to NZ Police and Civil Defence to support the recovery mission.

For Ngāti Awa (tangata whenua of Whakatāne) our responsibility to provide care for our people and visitors during this difficult time is foremost in our minds and actions. We are focussed on wrapping the necessary support around affected families and staff, all of whom are understandably distraught.

Karakia (prayer) services are being held daily to give staff and affected families an opportunity to come together in our grief.

Local liaisons are being appointed to support overseas families who are arriving in Whakatāne. Support packages are being put together today including practical and useful items for those families as they await news and updates on the recovery mission.

We are committed to facilitating family members’ travel and other arrangements while we all await the return of loved ones to their families.

We would like to acknowledge the numerous offers of support from our community and also wider Iwi from across the country.

Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou katoa.

There are many questions that are left to be answered but our priority at this time is on the welfare of those affected.”

Paul Quinn.

 

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Diane Berghan dberghan@gmail.com 021 221 5332

Whakaari/White Island Emergency

Status: For immediate release Date: 9 December 2019

Subject: Whakaari/White Island Emergency

White Island Tours Limited, are deeply saddened following the significant eruption at Whakaari / White Island this afternoon.

Paul Quinn, Chairman for White Island Tours says, “Devastation is an understatement. This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been impacted.”

White Island Tours Limited are currently assisting Police and Civil Defence with the official emergency response.

“We acknowledge the considerable efforts from Police and Civil Defence and will continue to do whatever is necessary throughout the rescue operation, says Paul.

Our immediate focus is on supporting our staff, manuhiri and respective whānau, who have been significantly impacted and are showing immense strength and courage.”

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Diane Berghan dberghan@gmail.com 021 221 5332

Ngāti Awa Research & Archives releases first online catalogue.

Ngāti Awa Research and Archives Trust was created to preserve, store and utilise the large amount of research and historical documents, which were compiled to support the WAI46 Ngati Awa Waitangi Tribunal Raupatu claim.

Research began more than 30 years ago in the 1980s, led by Sir Sidney Mead with the assistance of many other dedicated individuals. Over the years, the team of researchers collected a significant amount of supporting documentation that was uniquely linked to Ngāti Awa. Manuscripts, private collections, photographs and whakapapa provided a rich and colourful history of our past.

This collective knowledge is now available for the first time in its entirety. Whether you are an inquisitive Ngāti Awa uri, a dedicated researcher or just a history buff – you can search the online catalogue by text and literally find out anything you want to know about our story.

AGM Notice

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING AND POSTAL VOTE ON SPECIAL RESOLUTION

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2018
The 2018 Annual General Meeting for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa will be held on Saturday, 15 December 2018 at Te Hokowhitu a Tu
Marae, Keepa Road Whakatāne.

Agenda

  • 9.00am Pōhiri
  • 9:30am Morning Tea
  • 10.00am AGM opens
    • Chairman’s Welcome
    • Confirmation of previous AGM Minutes – 9 December 2017
    • Presentation and Adoption of Annual Report for 2017/2018
    • Presentation of draft Annual Plan 2019/20
    • Report – Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Limited
    • Report – Ngāti Awa Asset Holdings Limited
    • Appointment of Auditor for 2019/20
    • Approval of Representatives’ remuneration for 2019/20
    • General Business
  • 1.15pm AGM closes
  • 1.30pm Special General Meeting opens
  • 2pm Special General Meeting closes

NOTICE OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING 2018
Notice is given that:
(a) A Special General Meeting of the Adult Members of Ngāti Awa will be held at Te Hokowhitu A Tu Marae, Keepa Road, Whakatane on
Saturday 15 December 2018 at 1.30 pm immediately following the Annual General Meeting of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa; and
(b) A postal vote of the Adult Members of Ngāti Awa will be held with voting to close on Saturday 15 December 2018.
Business
The business of the meeting and the subject of the postal vote is to consider and vote on a Special Resolution proposing changes to the
Charter of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa.
The Special Resolution is required in order to amend the Charter in accordance with recommendations made by the Charter and
Governance Review Committee and accepted by the Rūnanga. The changes follow a consultation process that was conducted during
2015 and 2016, and again earlier in 2018.
The proposals to amend the Charter take the form of a Special Resolution and must therefore be passed by a majority of 75% or more
of the votes of the Adult Members of Ngāti Awa who vote on the resolution. Under the Charter, a special general meeting is required
for considering the Special Resolution.
Voting
All Adult Members of Ngāti Awa who are registered with the Rūnanga at 15 December 2018 are entitled to vote.
You can vote by completing the attached voting form and either returning by free post in the enclosed envelope to:
The Chief Returning Officer
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa
PO Box 3138
Christchurch 8140
or by delivering to the Chief Returning Officer at the Special General Meeting on Saturday 15 December 2018 at 1.30 pm.
All votes must be completed on the form accompanying this notice. Copies will not be accepted.
Postal votes must be received on or before 15 December 2018. If the envelope containing the voting form is date stamped on or before
that date and is received by the Chief Returning Officer no later than three days after that date, the postal vote will be counted.
Dr Hohepa Mason
Chairman
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
AND POSTAL VOTE ON SPECIAL RESOLUTION

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa lodge appeal on water consent

media

For Immediate Release
Date: 04 July 2018
Subject: Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa lodge appeal on water consent

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa has lodged an appeal in the Environment Court opposing the consents granted to Creswell NZ Ltd to extract 1.1 billion litres of water per annum for water bottling.
This extraction is from the Awaiti aquifer in the Rangitāiki and Tarawera rivers catchments, and in the rohe of Ngāti Awa. There are three existing water bottling consents taking water from the Awaiti aquifer, held by Otākiri Springs, Oravida and Distinction water bottling companies.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa is appealing the whole consent for the following reasons, specifically that the Commissioner’s:
• Concluded that there are no adverse effects on the Awaiti aquifer;
• Concluded that there are no adverse cultural effects;
• Had a lack of regard to Ngāti Awa relationships with Tarawera river, Awaiti aquifer and Otākiri springs;
• Had a lack of regard for the Mataatua Declaration on Water which is an iwi planning document.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa is seeking:
• That the consents be declined;
• If the consents are granted, that appropriate conditions are developed with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa to address the adverse effects Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa has identified.
Leonie Simpson, CEO Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa says “The Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Board which represents 22 hapū of Ngāti Awa unanimously support the appeal because they are seriously concerned about the irreversible harm to this aquifer, the people and the land, and the undermining of our status as kaitiaki and tangata whenua”.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa remain concerned about the current consent regime where Regional Council is continuing to grant consents for water bottling despite no regulations existing, and standards and limits for water quality and quantity are still being developed in the Rangitāiki catchment.
While this consenting regime is outside of the grounds Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa can appeal, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, and Ngāti Awa hapū will continue to advocate for a consent regime that recognises and provides for hapū and iwi interests in freshwater, that complies with legislation, and Council policies.
The Land and Water Forum Report to Ministers released in May 2018 recommends that the government “move quickly…to resolve iwi rights and interests and create a long-term framework”. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa support this recommendation and are seeking to progress discussions with the Crown as a Treaty partner and tangata whenua.
“The ability for Nongfu to purchase this water bottling operation has been enabled by the government, despite iwi, hapū and community opposition. At every turn, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa has had to advocate for transparency and accountability by local and central government, namely making the consent hearing public, and the participation of hapū, iwi and community in decisions that affect us” says Ms Simpson.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa invites submitters to the Creswell NZ Ltd consents to consider joining our appeal as a section 274 interested party. Enquiries on that matter can be directed to Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Manager Strategy and Policy, Ms Beverley Hughes at bev@ngatiawa.iwi.nz
END

Background
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa was established under the Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Act 2005.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa submissions at the consent hearing, cultural effects assessment and evidence opposed the consent applications expressing concern for:
•Water quality in the aquifer
•Water quantity in the aquifer
•Potential adverse environmental effects, including the cumulative effects of water takefrom the groundwater system and any adverse effects on surface water bodies including Tarawera River, Awaiti Aquifer, the overall groundwater system to which the aquifer connects and wetlands, waahi tapu and waahi taonga of significance to Ngāti Awa
•The values and interests of tangata whenua in freshwater and its management
Creswell Ltd, on behalf of Nongfu Springs Ltd, applied for and has been granted consent to take water for water bottling purposes at 57 Johnson Road, Otakiri. The owners of Otākiri Springs Ltd currently run a water bottling plant and a kiwifruit orchard which uses water for frost protection and irrigation.
Creswell proposes to purchase the land, disestablish the kiwifruit orchard, expand the water bottling plant and use that water and significant further volumes for water bottling purposes only.
Contact
Leonie Simpson
CEO
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa
07 307 0760
runanga@ngatiawa.iwi.nz

Ngāti Awa Rangatahi Leadership Programme

We aim to develop Ngāti Awa Taiohi leadership potential and provide experiences that will challenge and excite our next generation of leaders.

You need to be:
1. aged 15-18 years
2. of Ngāti Awa descent
3. commit to attend a one week programme daily from 16 – 20 July 2018, from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm at Office of Heitiki Creatives (next to Sun FM) on 4-10 Louvain Street, Whakatane.

Ngāti Awa Partner with Te Arawa Group and Rotoma No.1

media

Status: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 26 June 2018

Subject: Ngāti Awa Partner with Te Arawa Group and Rotoma No.1 to Acquire 100 ha of Kiwifruit


Ngāti Awa Group Holdings, Te Arawa Group Holdings and Rotoma No 1 Incorporation today announced they have successfully acquired the Matai Pacific group of kiwifruit orchards, comprising of almost 100 canopy hectares.
The three orchards – Te Matai Orchard; Pacific Gold Orchard and Coachman Orchard – are located in Te Puke.
The orchards will now be operated by a new Māori-owned joint-venture called Matai Pacific Iwi Collective. These orchards have been owned by overseas interests for the past 17 years.
Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Chair Paul Quinn says Matai Pacific fitted NAGHL’s target profile for investment. “It is a mature business, with strong cash-flows, a good management team and able to operate independently without too much effort. The kiwifruit sector has good forecast growth potential, while these orchards contain further development opportunities that we may wish to realise in the future.”
“The orchards will contribute solidly to Ngāti Awa’a financial sustainability, enabling us to better support hapū aspirations.”
There are no plans to make any immediate changes to the three separate orchards. However medium term prospects for the orchards include further conversion of green to gold, expansion of the canopy coverage area, and development of new varieties for export markets.
Expanding our production will create opportunities for long-term job growth for our people. Furthermore the scale of the orchards gives the Collective more flexibility for year round employment, rather than short term seasonal pickers.
“Like our two partners, we see this as an intergenerational investment. The decisions we make now are for future generations. This has the potential to create a legacy” said Dr Joe
Mason, Chair, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa. “Alongside our partners we will be a major player in
the Kiwifruit industry.”
The co-investment with Te Arawa Group and Rotoma leverages the different strengths of the three iwi. Te Arawa Group Holdings already has nearly ten years’ experience in the kiwifruit industry, while Rotoma have been seeking investments with good income distribution potential. Ngāti Awa have provided capital, investment and financial analysis, and will be actively involved in the ongoing operations of the business.
The properties currently grow green (Hayward) and gold (G3) varieties in roughly equal percentages. When mature, the three blocks are expected to produce up to 1.3 million trays. Ngāti Awa Group Holdings has taken an equal third share of the business and will appoint one of the three Shareholder Directors to the Board, who will be joined by up to two Independent Directors.
The sale process was a competitive tender undertaken by Bayleys. The conditions of the tender require the sale price to remain confidential.

For more information, please contact:
Geoff Hamilton
CEO
Ngāti Awa Group Holdings

Taiohi Leadership Programme

Ka pū te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa invites applications from Ngati Awa rangatahi aged 15-17 yrs to join our Taiohi Leadership Programme.

The programme aims to enhance and build the leadership capability and capacity of our future leaders.