Establishment in 2013 In August and September of 2013, Ngāti Paoa undertook a ratification process for the proposed Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust so it could be confirmed as its post-settlement governance entity (PSGE).
The results were posted in October 2013 and more than 96 percent of registered voters who participated approved the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust as the PSGE for Ngāti Paoa. It was subsequently established under the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust Deed (Trust Deed). The Minister for Māori Development and the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations approved the ratification results and the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust was subsequently recognized by the Crown as the mandated PSGE for Ngāti Paoa.
Initial Trustees In 2013, only 2 initial trustees, Gary Thompson and Bryce Heron (Independent), were appointed on the basis that settlement with the Crown of all historic claims would occur in less than 12 months. The Trust Deed as ratified by the Iwi of Ngāti Paoa was drafted with this expectation in mind and did not contemplate elections for a full compliment of Trustees until settlement had been reached.
Unfortunately, by 2018 negotiations with the Crown were still continuing and there appeared to be no end in sight. As a direct result of these delays and restricted by the Trust Deeds inability to hold elections until settlement, Gary and Bryce utilized provisions in the Trust Deed to appoint five more initial trustees increasing the total number of trustees to 7.
Trustee Elections in 2020 Although ratification is currently underway, the final settlement date still remains unknown and could take a further 12 months as a result of the legislative process required to give effect to the settlement. To ensure fair and transparent representation, the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust in consultation with iwi members, revised its Trust deed in December 2018.
The Trust deed now requires elections for all 7 Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust trustee positions to occur at the date of the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust annual general meeting (AGM) in 2020. This AGM must occur no later than 1 October 2020. The newly elected Trustees will become the establishment Trustees of the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust.
The Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust must give notice calling for nominations for all 7 Trustee positions at least 3 months before the AGM by post to all adult members registered with Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust (including by electronic form where available) and by inserting a prominent advertisement on at least two separate days in appropriate major metropolitan newspapers and in any provincial newspapers.
All nominations must be lodged with the Trustees of the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust no later than 21 days following the date upon which the notice calling for nominations is first given.
The Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust will engage Electionz as an appropriate independent third party to run the election process.
Commercial Subsidiaries Ngāti Paoa Group Investments and Ngāti Paoa Group Holdings are 100% wholly owned by the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust. They are designated for holding all commercial redress assets from Ngāti Paoa;’s Treaty settlements.
Their key strategic purposes are prudent financial management as well as being tasked with growing Iwi assets for the long-term benefit of the Iwi of Ngāti Paoa. Brett Rhind is currently appointed as the sole commercial Director. Additional appointments to the commercial board will follow in 2020.
