Keria leaves trust in good stead

After ten years Keria Ponga is leaving her position as trustee and chair of Te Āti Hau Trust.

“The board is in good stead because we have some really smart, younger and wise heads around the table,” says Keria, who has been active in her whenua and tribal affairs since she was a child.

The mother and grandmother from Pūtiki Marae says: “I’ve loved my time on the trust and working with a committed team to deliver for all our people regardless of whether they are big shareholders or small shareholders.”

The trust is the charitable arm of Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation and its goal is to support shareholders and their whānau, pursue their aspirations and goals.

Keria said a highlight for her was a housing project the trust undertook in conjunction with the Whanganui Primary Health Organisation.

“More than 40 houses of our shareholders were insulated over two years, and that made a huge difference for them so, yes, that’s something of which the Trust can be really proud.”

Other highlights for Keria were the trust’s creation of a tangihanga fund several years ago, a focus on supporting kaumātua and marae and, seeing the amazing things our shareholders and beneficiaries of Ātihau-Whanganui Inc are doing locally, nationally and globally. I am also pleased that the Alumni programme is underway, as this topic has been under discussion for at least 7 out of 10 years of the Trusts existence.

We have consistently messaged that the Trust aims to make it easier for shareholders and their beneficiaries to apply for grants, which requires a complete overhaul of the Trusts grant application forms and website.

The trust currently has two grants applications forms – one for education and scholarships and another for general which covers a range of kaupapa or categories.

“We realised that different kaupapa require different questions and supporting information so now every kaupapa has its own form.”

Those kaupapa consist of kaumātua

health and wellbeing, education scholarships, sports, marae, cultural and general.

The new forms are expected to be published on the trust’s website in time for when next year’s grant application rounds open. Applying online will also be an option.

“Processing and distributing grants is a huge job for both our people and our administrators so I am happy that the process will be made easier for everyone as I vacate the chair.”

The Trust has had many learnings in its 10 year existence. I am reminded of one such initiative where the Trust hosted a series of Hui with likeminded organisations, looking to pool together what little resources we had, to make the funds go further. Although the timing wasn’t quite right, there are new entities on the scene, which now make this a more viable proposition. As we head into the next decade for the Trust, I am excited by the opportunities that lay ahead of them.

Shar Amner takes over the reins as chair and is joined by fellow Ātihau- Whanganui Inc board members Whatarangi Murphy Peehi and Rāwiri Tinirau and independent trustees Aaron Rice Edwards and Jessica Smith (reappointed).

“Shar brings a wealth of experience to the role. I wish him all the very best as incoming trust chair, and I depart confident in the knowledge that he will serve our people well.”

Keria, who has a background in business mentoring and an in-depth knowledge in the machinery of government, will continue to serve on the Ātihau-Whanganui Inc Board.