Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust Trustees

Leon Symes Chair

Leon has led an extensive review of the future direction concerning the representation and asset arrangements of the iwi and hapū of Te Rohe o Te Wairoa following the signing of a Deed of Settlement with the Crown on 26 November 2016.

Leon has been a part of the Treaty Settlement process since 2013 and was Deputy Chair of the pre-settlement mandated group, Te Tira Whakaemi o Te Wairoa, at the conclusion of negotiation.

Leon is also Co-Chair of the Matariki Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS) Group for Hawkes Bay, and a committee member of various local marae, trusts, and community groups.

Leon operates a number of IT businesses which provide support to schools and businesses within the Wairoa District. This has extended to be a Wireless Internet Service Provider that operates in the Hawkes Bay, Bay of Plenty, and on the South Island’s West Coast. The business has been recently contracted by Crown Infrastructure Partners to extend the coverage into remote regions as part of the Rural Broadband Initiative Phase 2.

Earlier in his career, Leon was employed by the Ministry of Education as an IT Technician to support the role out of Information Communications Technologies into the Wairoa District. Leon holds a Bachelor of Arts and Maters of Business Administration from the Massey University of Palmerston North.

Pieri Munro Deputy Chair

Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Rauru Kiitahi, Ruahine, Ruanui, Ngāti Maniapoto and Kaitahu though Kāti Irakehu (as well as of Scottish, Irish and Portugese heritage).

Pieri has a wealth of knowledge, skill and experience drawn from an extensive career with the New Zealand Police. He was principal architect and leader of Te Urupare Whītiki, NZ Police Responsiveness to Treaty and to Māori. In 2003 he established the office of Māori Pacific Ethnic Services at Police National Headquarters. Before he retired from police in 2009 as Wellington Police District Commander, he was invested in 2004 with the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to Police and Māori.

Pieri chairs the Board of MedicAlert New Zealand, a charitable organisation held in high regard by the global network of MedicAlert affiliates. He has also been appointed to the position of Te Pou Whakarae – Group Manager Māori at Hawkes Bay Regional Council.

Pieri spent one year at the former Ministry of Fisheries, three years at the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, three years as Country Manager of Mont D’Or Resources and then two years at WorkSafe NZ, prior to coming to the Hawkes Bay.

“Since November 2016, Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust and its initial trustees have worked extremely hard to develop a PSGE model of choice for its beneficiaries. Confidence in the model, the huge effort of Trust engagement and communication, paid dividend on 30 November 2018 with 91.87% of voters ratifying the Unit Trust Model.”
Alex Maehe Trustee Ngāti Hineterā, Ngāi Tamaterangi

Alex was born, raised and educated in Hineterā, Frasertown, Wairo, one of 14 children to Dave Marsh and Te Wai Kāpene.

Alex is Deputy Principal at Matamata College, Waikato.

“I am grateful to the people of Ngā Tokorima a Hinemanuhiri Kāhui for the opportunity to serve and represent them on Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust. Our people, our places, our rich history are our real assets. Our settlement provides us with the means to regenerate, rebuild and reimagine our future.”
Apiata Tapine Trustee

Apiata is a Representative for Te Hononga o Ngā Awa Trust, and a Trustee of Te Reinga Mārae.

Apiata is also an appointed member of the Hawkes Bay Regional Council Regional Planning Committee, and an Elected Councillor -for Napier City, Nelson Park Ward.

He is proud to be part of the journey at Tātau Tātau that started more than 40 decades ago to address longstanding maemae with the Crown.

“I am excited to be a part of building a new framework that will drive and assist, rather than impede, the awesome task of reconstruction and development of our Mana Motuhake. To raise our region and its people from the sustained historical impacts, social neglect and abondonmentof the Crown will require determination and effort from everyone. I am grateful to be in a position to serve our people and region and to be the next to contribute towards the change. Our ancestors sought the protection and wellbeing of our generations unborn and Ngā Tāonga tuku Iho.”
Graeme Thomas Symes Trustee

Greame was born and raised in Wairoa, and for the past 42 years has been a resident in Nuhaka. He has a bachelor’s degree in Iwi Environmental Management, reflecting his passion for the environment, and is employed as a fencer general.

Graeme served as Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints for 10 years, was previously the Chair of the Wairoa District Council’s Māori Standing Committee and is the Chair of the Kahungunu Community Marae in Nuhaka. He is also a Trustee of the newly formed Te Iwi o Rakaipaaka Trust and also holds the title of Justice of the Peace.

“I am actively involved as a Kai korero at all Ngāti Rakaipaaka Marae within the Nuhaka area and other functions of the Marae, and I fully support positive community events and promoting the safety, health and wellbeing of our communities.”
Oha Manuel Trustee

Oha was born and raised by her grandparents Robert (Bob) and Emarina (Lena) Manuel in Te Wairoa. Tangata Whenua-Ahi-ka-roa.

Oha was the mandated representative and working party member for Ngāti Kurupakiaka, Te Wairoa Tapokorau, the then Te-Wairoa-Tapokorau-Cluster-1 on Te Tira, from 2015.

“Tātau Tātau undertook the Working Plan Agreement with its agreed attachments, which includes implementation of Tikanga e.g. that mana remains at whānau/hapū level. The expectation of Cluster-1 is; that trustees are accountable to and directed by their hapū/kāhui unless their hapū say otherwise; that the Trust Deed review provides for a fair/balanced, honest/transparent, outcome when implementing the WPA; that it promotes long-term business sustainability with benefits that flow back to and uplifts all whānau/hapū at grassroots level. “On behalf of whānau and hapū within our kahui, I bring our respect from grassroots/ahi-ka-roa, knowledge and wisdom gained from our Kuia/Koroua, whānau and hapū who worked amicably with whānau, hapū and marae in and outside the district.”
Phil Beattie

Kei te mihi e te whānau hapū, iwi and marae o Te Wairoa Tapokorau Whānuime Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa. Ko Phil Beattie ahau.

Phil was born and raised in Wairoa as the eldest of two siblings. His mother is Te Aroha Christie and he is the eldest grandchild of Katerina Hoetawa-Wirihana and Phillip Kaimoana Christie. His father, Brian Beattie, is the son of Leaving Rotoaatara-Edwards and George Te Rangi Beattie. Phil has six children and seven grandchildren.

He has worked in the forestry industry in Taupō/Kaingaroa, and the farming sector in Hawkes Bay/Tairawhiti, for more than 30 years. At present, he is the caregiver for his mother. His interests include Māori land trusts/incorporations of whānau whenua, hunting, fishing and diving

In In supporting whānau, hapū and marae pataka, his grassroots upbringing has enabled him to brings key skills such as the knowledge of the rohe, including whakapapa to whenua wai and tāngata; governance and leadership skills including the ability to make high-level decisions and leading teams; and effective communication, including engaging with trustees, partners and stakeholders, meeting and attending Kāhui hui.

“My aspirations for whanau, hapū, iwi and marae are focussed around the values and principles of Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa. Restoration of our health and wealth, revitalisation of our environment, protection of our cultural identity, and rebuilding an economic base. As trustee for all beneficiaries, my goal is to uphold our mana motuhake and tino rangatiratanga within Tātau Tātau o te Te Wairoa. Nō reira tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. ”

Commercial Company Board

Jason K Rogers BMS (Hons), C.A Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Rangiwewehi

Jason’s father is Graham Rogers and he is from the Rogers whānau of Ngāti Whakaue (Ngāti Te Roro o te Rangi koromatua hapū) and the Leonard whānau of Ngāti Rangiwewehi. He has two children and resides in Riverhead in West Auckland. Jason was raised in Rotorua and attended Western Heights High School before heading to Waikato University where he obtained a Bachelor of Management Studies. After graduating, he joined EY for six years and obtained his Chartered Accounting qualification of NZ and AU (CA).

Jason has extensive executive experience and as a professional director, is involved with several organisations. He has worked for EY, Bankers Trust, Pacific Investments PLC and Generation Homes. He has been on the board of the Ngāti Whakaue Assets Trust since 2009 and Chair of Owhata 2B & 7 Land Trust since 2017, Chair of Matrix Security Group Ltd since 2004, Director of Whakaue GP Limited since 2014, and Director of Whanake GP Limited (Nui Development) since 2016.

His career has enabled him to develop extensive experience in governance, asset management, investment management, private equity, corporate finance, general management, management services, land development, residential building, residential property syndication, partnerships, Joint Ventures, advisory roles, project management, risk management, stakeholder management, capital raising and Iwi leadership development.

“What drives me and gives great satisfaction is being able to play a part in managing Iwi economic interests to generate returns, which then enables the development of the social, health and wellbeing, cultural and educational needs and aspirations of Iwi.”
Michael Crawford

Michael grew up mostly in Whangarei, where both his parents hail from. He lives near Hamilton with his wife. Together, they enjoy the outdoors, keeping fit and care about the environment. He has four adult children who are: a caregiver, a builder, and two nurses.

Michael is a chartered director, chartered accountant and a lawyer. As a director, he has robust and diverse experience in governance and management. This includes the unique experience of working through the challenges for Waikato-Tainui following their Settlement and putting in place the foundations for the iwi’s present success.

As well as Waikato-Tainui, Michael has worked for organisations such as Fonterra, KPMG and Hong Kong Shanghai Bank. His directorships include insurance, health and student accommodation. He cares about people, has integrity, and a future focused view, and sees the treaty settlements as hugely positive for Iwi and Aotearoa.

“Those experiences continue to help inform me in how to balance the various needs and desires of the people and effective business outcomes.”
Rangituanui Tumoana Manuel Ngāti Kurupakiaka and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa

Rangituanui has been involved in Tatau Tatau’s Treaty Settlement process as a hapū member, a mandated representative and as a Treaty negotiator. He has extensive governance and administrative experience across a diverse spectrum of activities and has been a part of a number of Māori organisations in a variety of roles from worker to manager to chair.

In the past and recently he has been involved in the delivery of services in the health, social services and education sectors. In addition, he has been working closely in the financial management of iwi-owned assets and importantly in the management of Māori land.

“I am pleased to be part of this initial establishment of the Commercial Arm of Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust. I believe the establishment of this Investment arm to be one of the most important phases of the Treaty Settlement process. Accordingly, given my governance and administrative experience across a diverse spectrum of activities, I believe I will be of assistance in this new entity and will contribute positively to the operation of the Commercial Arm while working collaboratively with others of a like mind.”
Tina Porou Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Manuhiri

Tina has worked as an environmental planner and a tangata whenua advocate in the natural resource management space for over 20 years on projects that have included developing papakainga houses for social wellbeing, facilitating environmental restoration programmes in large corporates and for hapū, engaging in national policy interventions on water, climate change and biodiversity while working with iwi and councils to enable stronger decision sharing relationships.

Tina has specific experience in the areas of water allocation and quality, geothermal development and cultural impact assessments.

This broad range of work provided a strong platform for sustainable development approaches, all from a Māori perspective. Tina also held the role of the Head of Sustainability at Contact Energy which provided deep experience in corporate responsibility and the operationalisation of these ideals in a commercial space and more broader assisting Māori businesses delve deeper into their own kaitiakitanga roles.

Tina has international experience speaking on natural resource management including the UN in Rome, representing Iwi at COP21 in Paris and presenting at the Dine Reservation in New Mexico.

Tina holds board governance positions on the Lake Taupo Forest Trust, Akina, Wharerata Forests and is based in Turangi. Poipoia has a small team of experienced iwi practitioners and technicians in the field of resource management from across the regions.

“My broad experience in working with hapū, whānau and Iwi has provided me with a multi-layered approach to natural resource management, that provides unique perspectives to address environmental challenges.”
Anthony (Tony) Trevor Gray

Tony is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and also a chartered member of the Institute of Directors. He was previously Chief Financial Officer at Hastings District Council and is currently Executive Project Advisor (part time), focused on regional economic development.

Tony is a director of the Eastland Group and its subsidiaries, Maungaharuru Tangitu Limited, Civic Financial Services Limited, Artemis Nominees Limited, Quality Roading and Services (Wairoa) Limited, and chair of Ngāti Pūkenga Investments. Tony has had extensive experience in post-settlement group entities and impending investment policies.

Prior to that, Tony held a senior executive role at Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, and was CFO at Mighty River Power, and TVNZ. He has also sat on the boards of various companies including CLEAR Communications and Sky Network Television Limited and Ngāti Apa Developments Limited.