Connected leadership: Working as a team to do the mahi

A broader team approach to governance is being ushered in by the Committee of Management at ĀtihauWhanganui Incorporation.

Some fine-tuning in the past year or so has established two new sub-committees to enable dedicated focus in key areas of the business.

The Awhiwhenua Committee is the first, appropriately bringing governance of the farm apprenticeship programme directly under the Committee of Management. The move signals a commitment to reinvigorating the programme’s strategic direction.

The second new committee is Farm & Environment, a development that recognises the importance to shareholders of managing the business of farming well, while ensuring the Incorporation’s commitment to te taiao and environmental sustainability is front and centre.

Committee of Management Chair Dr Te Tiwha Brendon Puketapu says the two new committees indicate a shift in the approach to leadership.

“No one person can do everything, but collectively we have strength,” Te Tiwha says.

“There’s a deliberate change in how we think of ourselves as an incorporation board. We believe that talented and focused individuals do best when they’re part of a talented and focused team.

“We are further developing this thinking with a little more structure and focus,” Te Tiwha says.

The shift comes as the board works to support shareholders to a stronger sense of connection to their land and how it is managed.

Deputy Chair Che Wilson says the changes began under previous chair Mavis Mullins.

“I want to acknowledge Mavis for her leadership and all she has done to connect us to the right opportunities and development,” Che says.

“She built a very strong team culture and helped ground the board as a solid unit.

“In addition to that, she saw the importance of active succession planning and made the decision to retire from the chairmanship while serving a final year with the Committee of Management. That has allowed the board an important transition period.”

The new governance structure is anchored by the Committee of Management: Dr Te Tiwha Brendon Puketapu (chair), Che Wilson (deputy chair), Mavis Mullins, Keria Ponga, Whatarangi MurphyPeehi, Shar Amner, and Dr Rāwiri Tinirau. Secretary – Paul Maguire.

There are three sub-committees:

• Audit & Risk – Che Wilson (chair), Keria Ponga, Whatarangi Murphy-Peehi, Te Tiwha Puketapu (ex-officio), Joe Hanita (independent appointee). Secretary – Russell Bell. (All board members have an open invitation to attend ARC meetings.)

• Farm & Environment – David Nelson (chair/independent appointee), Mavis Mullins, Te Tiwha Puketapu, Whatarangi Murphy-Peehi, Andrew Beijeman (chief executive), Siwan Shaw (business manager farming). Secretary – Sarah Bell.

• Awhiwhenua – Whatarangi Murphy-Peehi (chair), Mavis Mullins, Te Tiwha Puketapu, Keria Ponga, Whetu Moataane (tikanga & brand manager).

The autonomous charitable arm Te Āti Hau Trust sits alongside the Committee of Management. Its members are: Shar Amner (chair), Mavis Mullins, Dr Rāwiri Tinirau, Aaron Rice-Edwards (independent appointee), Jonelle Hiroti-Kinane (independent appointee), Tukariri Dryden (associate director). Secretary – Charmaine Teki.

“With all of these different branches of mahi, we are sharing the leadership,” Che says.

“It’s not just a chair or a deputy chair who leads the way – it’s all elected and appointed members working as a team to progress the different branches of mahi that need to be done.”

Te Tiwha says the intent is to draw fully on the skill base of those elected by shareholders.

“Our shareholder whānau showed their support and confidence in individuals when they voted them to the board. Now I would like our people to see our strength as a collective – for example, the extent and the quality of the networks that exist among us collectively is phenomenal.”

Te Tiwha says there are areas of focus where additional expertise and experience could be gained through continuation of the Associate Director programme, which could also provide a pathway for succession.

“We are mindful of our responsibilities as the board of an inter-generational Māori-owned land collective – first and foremost, to look after the land so the land looks after us. But also important is the aspiration to provide benefit to our shareholder whānau whose forebears placed confidence in the Incorporation to look after their uri.”

The Awhiwhenua Committee has a busy year ahead of it, with the workforce development programme at Te Pā Station likely to be reset under the new committee to include a pathway for training to farm manager level.

“We’re not just talking about farm hands, we want farm managers,” Te Tiwha says.

The Farm & Environment Committee also has its work cut out in continuing to address the effects of the pandemic, including impact on distribution lines, higher costs and cashflow. As well, the Committee will focus on animal health and welfare, employee welfare and looking after the land.

Dealing with climate change will also be key.

“Our lands cut across two climatic areas, the central plateau and the river basin,” Te Tiwha says. “We’ve always had that – but now we’re experiencing changes that mean we need a re-think. What we used to understand well now needs to be reassessed.”

Committee of Management

Te Tiwha Brendon Puketapu (chair), Che Wilson (deputy chair), Mavis Mullins, Keria Ponga, Whatarangi Murphy-Peehi, Shar Amner, Dr Rāwiri Tinirau, Secretary – Paul Maguire.

Te Āti Hau Trust

Shar Amner (chair), Mavis Mullins, Dr Rāwiri Tinirau, Aaron Rice-Edwards (independent appointee), Jonelle Hiroti-Kinane (independent appointee), Tukariri Dryden (associate director), Secretary – Charmaine Teki.

Audit & Risk

Che Wilson (chair), Keria Ponga, Whatarangi Murphy-Peehi, Te Tiwha Puketapu (ex-officio), Joe Hanita (independent appointee), Secretary – Russell Bell

All board members have an open invitation to attend ARC meetings.

Farm & Environment

David Nelson (chair/independent appointee), Mavis Mullins, Te Tiwha Puketapu, Whatarangi Murphy-Peehi, Andrew Beijeman (chief executive), Siwan Shaw (business manager farming), Secretary – Sarah Bell.

Awhiwhenua

Whatarangi Murphy-Peehi (chair), Mavis Mullins, Te Tiwha Puketapu, Keria Ponga, Whetu Moataane (tikanga & brand manager).