E te iwi o Maniapoto. Following the successful event of The Meet the Candidates Hui, all sixteen confirmed candidates were provided the opportunity to present themselves to the iwi and discuss why they should be generally elected as a trustee to the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board. Key themes that came through from all the candidates were cultural identity, skills they could bring into the organisation and future iwi aspirations.
The Meet the Candidates Hui was also live streamed on the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board Facebook page. This allowed the candidates to present in front of the physical audience who traveled from near and far and provided an opportunity to reach 90% of the iwi who live outside the rohe.
As a follow-up, the questions that had been put forth in front of all candidates will be shown below and an additional page will be displayed below with each candidate’s responses.
1.With 90% of our Iwi members living in urban area’s, how will you ensure equity of effort and distribution of resources between our rural and urban spread whānau?
Niketi Toataua
It will be a challenge to scope , prepare co design a urban and rural effort for the MMTB the positives are the Tainui Games (Maniapoto marae do it different they combine the maraes of the Maniapoto, Rereahu and central Maniapoto at these games and have been in the top honours for these games, Maniapoto Games where the people of all ages and from many locations gather to compete, be informed, see, hear and value Maniapototanga , Maniapoto FM as a voice to unify the listeners and users on the day to day week to week, month by month events, activities thoughts and past and future dynamics of Maniapoto, Māori TV as a portal to better inform Aotearoa on the heart beat and pulse visually of Maniapoto journey going forward or re establishing what we need to know and why this brings the wider Maniapoto urban and rural on cultural focus on education, health, especially environment, business, plans of a Maniapoto marae aspiration future for their descendants. Brother google and all online technology. There is no top down solutions for Rereahu Maniapoto to the Kawhia foreshores its a whanau (urban and rural) marae (rural and townshuip) hapu (rural and urban) up approach to get the message and information to all the connected and affiliated peoples of all ages to be included and participate in all matters for the benefit of Maniapototanga.Rural people and whanau have to migrate to urban or township locations. Rural areas that under the MMTB tend to have a lower or poorer socio economic conditions ie less education, employment, health etc MMTB would need to explore strategies that have worked else where or create, or navigate systems that have worked. Prepare a stock take of Maniapoto takiwa community needs rural to urban or urban/township resources to give access to either 1. align assets and values of the rural needs, the access to the rural cultural values, matauranga, nako of the home or ahikaa rural assets and values to the urban/overseas whanau and hapu tamariki to koroheke and kuia. Prepare a agreement from Rereahu with Maniapoto central onto the Kawhia an agreements of roles and co design a hub or core where all parties can share and work in unity to assist and manaaki understanding what helps and what can deter progress toward improving assumed priorities. Enhance marae to achieve their dreams, aspirations and goals from Rereahu to Kawhia these are the pou of our people these are where we come home and either be introduced or seduced as a space of belonging to ….our home.
Derek Wooster
Regardless of where iwi members reside they all will have access to I benefits derived from treaty settlements. The method and proportion will be determined by the PSGE.
Corey Wilson
I hope to develop a full needs assessment for our iwi in order to I understand where our whanau are (which we currently are aware of anyway) and other demographics that will allow us to identify where sensitivity points are in the iwi. I will aim to focus more on the social demographs such as household income, age, school year, kaumatua etc. as opposed to physical demographic and then proceed trying to make an improvement. Although physical demographs play a significant part, I think more emphasis needs to placed on what our whanau are doing and where they need support.
Glenn Tootill
I think whoever is successful in being appointed to the board needs to represent all of Ngāti Maniapoto me ōna hapū maha, mai i te Rohe Pōtae, kei waho i te Rohe Pōtae rānei. That includes our whānau in rural areas as well as in urban areas. To do this the trustees will need to be vigilant to ensure no one group is being given preference over another.
Christine Brears
The wrongdoing of Government took from Maniapoto Iwi our culture our mana and all that we once were. (Strong mana motuhake Maniapoto Iwi). I believe by investing in the revitalisation of our Culture ie Te Reo, Nga Waiata Nga Tikanga we all benefit. I also believe ngā Hapu must have a voice in the decisions that are made in regards to this question all Maniapoto uri affiliate to a Hapu and Marae within Maniapoto.
Yorkie Taylor
As a Trust Board member, maximising the assets and minimising liabilities (as I highlighted in the Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 and the Trustees Act 1956) to the best of our ability as a Team would be a key goal. A key principle of a Trustees’ duty is Impartiality, in that trustees must treat all beneficiaries with the same degree of fairness, and that the trustees are there to act in the best interests of all the beneficiaries. This accommodates equity of effort and distribution of resources supporting interests of our registered members based in both urban and rural areas in Aotearoa and also those overseas. In my Candidate Profile, you will note I have highlighted my support of the Maniapoto Hui-a-Iwi via the Te Kawau Touch vehicle participation example (the last Eight Iwi Festivals) reflecting “urban-based Iwi members arriving Labour Weekend, supporting Festivals core focus, promoting the return to Maniapoto rural district”. Despite 90 percent of our Iwi members living in urban development areas, the 10 percent back home in Maniapoto rural district are important as they are our ‘ahikaa’, and so “keep the fires burning” maintaining our regional Maori economy including supporting our Marae, and so are valued. In saying this, I am a supporter of opportunities available for all Iwi members, which the MMTB and Maniapoto Fisheries Trust (also Trusts within the Maniapoto rohe i.e Te Maru o Rereahu Trust, Ruapuha- Uekaha Hapu Trust, and Waikato-Tainui respective entities whose legislative boundaries extend as far into Maniapoto Central Region) have provided for, via grants/scholarships/funding to applicant beneficiaries/registered Iwi members, etc.
Rawiri Bidois
I would make a Grant available to each eligible city/town organisation to provide for their hui in respect of communication to and from. The total grant would be fixed and distributed via the number on the register, resident in that city/town.
Wikitōria Tāne
The Tribal Register provides The Board with access to statistical data/ demographics for all who are registered. I think it’s important to strike a balance between supporting hau kāinga to maintain our tikanga and kawa, to maintain their own repositories of knowledge in whakapapa and kōrero tuku iho pertaining to their mana rangatiratanga around our marae and on the whenua and wai, and providing support to the 90% living elsewhere. At this stage, I think it is a bit premature to be talking about the distribution of resources. The priority in terms of resources I think is to 1. Grow the resource; and, 2. Identify initial strategic priorities and support staff to action those priorities.
Aloma Shearer
As a Trustee, you are responsible for all of the beneficiaries and not anyone demographic statistic of the beneficiaries. Therefore I will be ensuring equity for all.
2.Can you please identify and name the top 5 candidates whom you would be most pleased to work with?
Niketi Toataua
I see 16 committed nominees for the people to decide and from the people’s choice I would if successful be pleased to work with. I wish to work with people who won’t warm a seat, take the role seriously and trustees and RMC at a positive yet open to discuss and decide an outcome an action and can do attitude. Statements are important but precise questions and robust and well-designed solutions to address MMTB matters that need to be resolved.
Derek Wooster
Not appropriate to supply an answer.
Corey Wilson
Wikitōria Tāne, Derek Wooster, Bella Takiari-Brame, Glenn Tootill, Missy Te Kanawa.
Glenn Tootill
Ultimately it is up to the iwi and I will work with any of the candidates. In saying that, to provide continuity, I would be particularly pleased to work alongside the trustees I worked with in the previous term.
Christine Brears
Representation should reflect multiple skills to include financial and I legal competencies. A board should not have an overload of one particular skill. A board should include open-minded thinkers, individuals with proven records of commitment to the people.
Yorkie Taylor
I am reluctant in identifying candidates whom I would be most pleased to work with, however, acknowledge all MMTB personnel the past 40 years who have worked very hard contributing to the position MMTB are at presently.
Rawiri Bidois
The board comprises 15 members, 7 of them I RMC, 1 Kaumatua Kaunihera and 1 Arikinui who will all bring their particular viewpoints and aspirations of their “Constituents” to the table. Because the 6 Generally Elected members don’t have “Constituents” per se’, I would be most pleased to work with another 5 who would bring different viewpoints and aspirations to the table. It would be sad if all 6 had the same viewpoints and aspirations.
Wikitōria Tāne
I support Corey Wilson (part of Nehenehenui RMC’s succession plan) as an up and coming leader who is already working with iwi, hapū and his marae – and brings to the table his own skill set from the corporate world and a fresh perspective as a Rangatahi that is not skewed by other reanga representation of the Rangatahi worldview, and who wears the korowai (figurative) of his koroua and kuia with strength and humility. I support Derek Wooster because of the wealth of knowledge and experience that he brings to the table. I support Bella Takiari because she has shown her value as an incumbent Trustee. I think she is well grounded with her whānau, marae, hapū and this comes across in her sincerity when engaging with whānau. I support Gannin Ormsby because I believe his whāinga is similar to mine – that ensures the ahi kā are supported to be the foundation that helps to ground and connect those living rāwaho.
Aloma Shearer
No Response.
3.Do you agree or not agree that the Trust Board should comprise of representatives from throughout ‘all’ of our rohe of Maniapoto? And that the Trust Board’s members should be a fair indication of the current makeup of Iwi? i.e. rangatahi to kaumātua
Niketi Toataua
I agree that the nominees that Are up for election have a active connection and involvement that would embrace multiple marae and hapū throughout Maniapoto to me this would be a definite plus, it would be a huge advantage if you have these connections and networks so that the MMTB business can be undertaken fairly at the table for each takiwa marae hapū and wider Maniapoto descendants outside of the rohe. A skilled and proactive trustee is very important, at this phase of MMTB expertise and experience is vital to ensure that diligence leading up to the closure of MMTB is seamless. Rangatahi could be in a observing capacity not so much a trustee capacity and kaumatua more leadership in a cultural face and role when interacting with Maniapoto and ngā mata waka whaanui to support MMTB in is cultural settings and interactions with the hapū, marae and iwi business leading upto the establishment of the new PSGE.
Derek Wooster
Yes. Agree to both questions.
Corey Wilson
Yes I agree and I think naturally this may occur if the makeup were I represented through the nomination of candidates but nominated candidates appear to reside more or less only within the Maniapoto- Waikato area.
Glenn Tootill
I agree with both comments. At present, the board allows a specific I space for kaumatua which I agree with. Going forward, in terms of the Post Settlement Governance Entity I am particularly keen to see there is specific representation for rangatahi.
Christine Brears
I believe that representation should comprise of Maniapoto Uri. I also I believe the Board make up should have rangatahi and kaumatua representation.
Yorkie Taylor
If I did not agree with this question, that could mean a process reflecting status quo electing its board members being ineffective. In my view, it is effective, and has provided an opportunity for registered Iwi members/beneficiaries (who do care) to vote for a candidate who they feel can represent their interests moving forward. Considering I have just acknowledged all MMTB personnel the past 40 years who have worked very hard contributing to the position MMTB and Iwi are at now (which is a mandate being achieved and an Agreement in Principle signed, and the fact that Trust Board Members and MMTB kaimahi will work hard to ensure the aspirations of Maniapoto forward) the Trust Board for some time, as seen with our Board Members from Regional Management Committees (whom are elected in their respective regions via a voting process), arguably representatives reflecting ‘all’ of our rohe of Maniapoto has been achieved. In my experience and knowledge, Trust Board members have historically reflected a fair indication of the current make up of Iwi (i.e rangatahi and kaumatua). Examples are: My father (Pat Taylor) in the late 70s/early 80s being a Rangatahi Representative along with others supporting MMTB; My Great Grand Aunt (the late) Heeni Te Wharemaru Te Teira, a former MMTB member in late 70s/early 80s, along with Grand Uncle (the late) Te Rua Anderson, two kaumatua at the time (and former advisors in 80s/90s/early 2000s of the late Maori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu); My mother (Pia Searancke) in the late 90s and early 2000s reflecting an Adult Rangatahi Former MMTB trustee (of those times) and in the last several years, a kaimahi hardworking employee who works for MMTB that represents and supports the tribe; For numerous years kaumatua have been represented by the Kaumatua Kaunihera o Maniapoto, a linked faction of MMTB on behalf of the Iwi, and; MMTB opportunities have continued to support young Rangatahi at grass roots and so hear their aspirations.
Rawiri Bidois
No, I don’t. Home is the Maniapoto Rohe as it presently is and they must lead. To me, the most important thing for all Maniapoto people is our Maniapototanga, (Tino-rangatiratanga, Mana motuhake, Kaitiaki, Mana tangata) which is what the youth and townies, in particular, seek. The home people must be provided with the resources to do so, which will draw the non-Hau kainga youth and townies back.
Wikitōria Tāne
The answer to this question lies in Q1. Again, I there is a need to strike a balance between the status of Maniapoto iwi as it is now with a view laying the foundation for a prosperous future for uri whakatupu. This should include Rangatahi, Pakeke, and Kaumātua.
Aloma Shearer
Trust Board members have always been representatives of whanau/hapu/Iwi and I agree this is how it should be. Every person over the age of 18 who is registered has the opportunity to stand for election.
4.I have correspondence received from the MMTB dated 2014. I ask this correspondence be read at this hui. I will then question the candidates (Charles Toa)
Niketi Toataua
May I ask that each nominee have the opportunity to read the letter and than the question you wish to ask me, I may or will take the opportunity to answer my thoughts to the question you have.
Derek Wooster
Pity this conflict has not been resolved.
Corey Wilson
No Response.
Glenn Tootill
I have not received the correspondence.
Christine Brears
No Response.
Yorkie Taylor
I am happy to receive questions from Charles Toa, despite only being a beneficiary of MMTB in 2014. Since I aim to be a Trustee/Board member in 2018, my answers may assist Mr Toa.
Rawiri Bidois
No comment.
Wikitōria Tāne
Not able to answer this question as don’t know the context
Aloma Shearer
No Response
5.What is a good name or what is the right name for the PSGE?
Niketi Toataua
Ngā Poutiriao o Te Nehenehenui….its cool when you can explore hohonu and than simplify to noa so that you give back to all those that shared and explained how the most insignificant meanings are really the most profound once you begin asking a question which has a life time of answers. PSGE is going to be the leading edge rangapū to PROTECT and NUTURE by being the best they can be.
Derek Wooster
A good and right name is one that can be easily spoken & written and with a message.
Corey Wilson
Te Nehenehenui. This will ultimately reinforce the long term vision of creating an abundance of resource and supporting our whānau.
Glenn Tootill