WHENUA Issue 4

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WH IRINGA A NUK U 2012 issuE

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KAHU NGAIA PROFILE

POSTAL VOTING PROCESS

LITTLE TEMPSKY MILKING SHED DEVELOPMENT

LADY OF ACTION

HINERANGI EDWARDS SPORTS GRANT RECIPIENTS

BLACKBURN SISTERS

LEILA + ROIMATA



Poua ki runga, poua ki raro, poua iho rā ki te mounga e taumarumaru nei i a tātou te tangata me te whenua e hora ake nei. Nei rā ka tuku mihi kia rātou kua wheturangitia. Kua tangihia, kua mihia nō reira e te hunga wairua haere atu rā. Ka mihi anō rā kia tātou te hunga ora. Tēnā koutou e te whānau whānui o Parininihi ki Waitotara, e te whānau whānui o Taranaki, puta noa ki te Ao. We are about to undertake a significant change in the way by

when you consider in the year of the

to meet our vision, He Tangata,

120th anniversary of the West Coast

He Whenua, He Oranga. We also

Leases, the legislative process that

recognise that there are constants

alienates us from our land is still very

within that cycle of change, some of

much the same as when it was first

the people who work tirelessly in the

imposed on our people.

background, working relationships

Nevertheless change has been an almost constant partner for the Incorporation over the last couple of years. Changes in premises, changes in staff, changes in

we have established over time with contractors and suppliers, our whanau who continue to guide our leadership as they take on challenging roles.

organisational capacity, changes in

So as we embrace change as part

leadership, changes in investment

of our growth and development

strategies, changes in the way we

for Parininihi ki Waitotara we know

communicate and tell our stories

it is the constant presence of our

and now changes to our electoral

maunga, our awa, our marae, our

process.

whanau, hapu and iwi, all within

Ka pu te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi is a whakatauki that understands that change is inevitable.

which we elect members of the

This issue of Whenua briefly

Committee of Management. It

explores and highlights some

seems that change can take a long

of those changes that we have

time to come into effect especially

undertaken as we continue to strive

the realms of our whenua that will forever remain as sentinels to guide us on our journey.



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08

CONTENTS WHAKAMANA

ON KAHU NGAIA 04 PROFILE

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16

Keeping fit and active helps Kahu Ngaia remain a constant figure around the different PKW Farms.

GLOBAL FARMERS 07 RABOBANK MASTERCLASS

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22

Chief Executive Dion Tuuta participates in an exclusive international leadership training programme.

ADMIN STAFF 08 PKW The emerging administration roles that exist at the PKW offices represent the organisations growth.

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26

PĀKIHI

ON HINERANGI EDWARDS 12 PROFILE

WHENUA MAGAZINE Editor Dion Tuuta Deputy Editor Amokura Panoho Creative Director Jeremy Moa Photography Quentin Bedwell Graphic Design iStudios Multimedia PARININIHI KI WAITOTARA Postal PO Box 241, New Plymouth 4340 Physical Taranaki House, 109 Devon Street West, New Plymouth 4310 Telephone +64 (6) 769 9373 Fax +64 (6) 757 4206 Email office@pkw.co.nz www.pkw.co.nz

Conversations at her family’s kitchen tables during her childhood helped fuel HInerangi’s desire to be actively involved with PKW

LITTLE TEMPSKY ROAD 16 NEW PKW Farms are setting high standards with the largest investment made in five years that showcases the combination of quality land with technology.

COAST LEASES 20 WEST Reflecting on the 120 year anniversary Whenua revisit the importance of understanding the history around the West Coast Leases. ĀWHINA

REREKOHU TUTERANGIWHIU 21 TE PKW Trust scholarship recipient Te Rerekohu Tuterangiwhiu reports on his academic progress.

UTANGANUI MUSEUM OF SOUTH 22 AOTEA TARANAKI Two years after the PKW Trust provided a community grant Whenua pops in for a visit.

SISTERS LEILA & ROIMATA 24 BLACKBURN With a sports grant from PKW Trust the Blackburn sisters share their sporting adventure. MATAURANGA

PKW HISTORICAL RECORDS 26 ARCHIVING Protecting the history of over 300 files has seen a productive project eventuate between Te o Taranaki Trust and PKW.

TARANAKI 28 VENTURE Vision, innovation, partnership critical to Taranaki’s future.

ISTUDIOS 77B Devon Street East, New Plymouth. Telephone +64 (6) 758 1863 Email info@istudios.co.nz www.istudios.co.nz

Cover Kahu Ngaia stands by the Gum Tree planted by Ivan Willis’ great father at the new farm development. (refer page 16)


HE’S BEEN CALLED GUIDE RANGI OR HANDYMAN JACK THROUGHOUT THE 20 PLUS YEARS HE’S WORKED FOR PKW, BUT WITH THE OFFICIAL TITLE AS FARMS MAINTENANCE PROVIDER, KAHU NGAIA STILL ENJOYS THE VARIETY OF HIS DAILY JOBS AS HE TRAVELS FROM FARM TO FARM HELPING WHERE REQUIRED. >>


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KAHU NGAIA The PKW Incorporation has been through many changes over the last couple of decades and one man who has seen the transformation yet remained a constant presence out on the farms is Kahu Ngaia. Quite happy to remain in the background, Kahu’s job has been to literally fill in where an extra pair of hands is needed to support the day to day running of the farms. His workplace stretches from South to Central Taranaki and occasionally he might be called to help out in some way further north and with the range of different jobs that need to be done Kahu never gets bored.

the sharemilkers, managers or workers homes, repairing roofs of the barns or sheds. Then on some days I might be just helping to move stock.” Sometimes Kahu has been called on to take visitors around the farms, hence the nickname Guide Rangi and he enjoys sharing his knowledge of the range of characteristics each farm has. Working with the different contractors and making sure they can get on with their job as well as building good relationships with the sharemilkers and farm managers requires good people skills. Kahu shrugs off the suggestion that it’s a specialised skill.

with his relations about the West Coast leases and how the leasees were not meeting their obligations. Though he didn’t understand the background to those debates, little did he know at that time that many years later he would end up working for an organisation established to manage the interests of the landowners of West Coast leases. By 1965 Kahu had moved to Stratford where he still resides today and raised his family of three sons, one now living in Australia.

Despite never having been to a shareholder meeting Kahu is happy just “Part of my role is to ensure that a small to play a part where he presently is in the job can get done quickly in order to keep Incorporation, confident in the direction costs down, so its important that people the Incorporation is going. can talk to me and be assured I will get “I had worked in a galvanising plant and on with it.” “I get to mix a lot with the farming and in forestry when I was younger and it was business community and it’s good to see through the forestry work that around Brought up in Pungarehu with his two their changed perceptions, and growing 1992 Peter Charlton asked me if I would brothers and two sisters by parents interest in the Incorporation and that they be interesting in being a maintenance Kahukura Ngaia and Dorothy (Dot) are wanting to support our success.” Thomas, Kahu’s Te Atiawa whakapapa worker for the Incorporation farms,” Though he is not as agile today as meant his whanau spent a lot of time at explains Kahu. Parihaka during his childhood. when he first started his job Kahu is still “Basically I do everything from fencing, sprightly as he hops in out of his vehicle waterlines, helping out contractors from In those years while walking from to open and close gates. Pungarehu to Rahotu on many electricians, plumbers to carpenters occasions with his father, Kahu recalls when they are working on the farms “Its something you get used to, but I try that along the way Kahukura Snr would and the houses. At times it might to keep healthy and fit as I’m happy to always be involved in heated discussions keep going for as long as I am needed.” mean I’m fixing windows or doors at 06 WHAKAMANA


The Rabobank Global Farmers Masterclass In June 2012 PKW CEO Dion Tuuta was invited to attend the Rabobank Global Farmers Master Class (June 9th – 15th 2012) in the Netherlands. This was a unique and exclusive gathering of 50 leading farmers from all over the world and provided an opportunity to work with food and agri researchers, CEO-level business representatives and senior governmental officials. Through active participation and interaction with other farmers, leading researchers, senior business executives

and industry experts the summit was designed to address the challenges that are key to the sustainable future of farming.

though we actually have a lot in

“It was hard not be impressed with the calibre of speakers and participants” Dion said. “Rabobank had assembled a world class level of presenters.”

with an intergenerational view.”

Participants came from Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. The summit focused on the key strategic challenges for farmers, including succession planning, farm returns, sustainability, innovation and cooperation throughout the value chain.

Incorporation well placed for the future.

“Parininihi ki Waitotara faces each of these issues everyday.” Dion said. “We don’t sell land so can’t make profit from capital gains the way that most nonMāori businesses do. We therefore have to think about our business differently.” “We are alsoquite unique in terms of Rabobank’s normal customer base

common. Rabobank is a cooperative with a long term outlook. Parininihi ki Waitotara is a Māori business collective

Dion asaid that the course reaffirmed that PKW’s involvement in the food production business has the

“The increasing demand for food is real and we need to be positioning ourselves to take advantage of this. Our focus on regaining control of our land is part of positioning ourselves for the future – but we also need to be thinking about opportunities beyond the farm gate and forging international links.” “The Farmers Masterclass gave us access to an international network of expertise which Parininihi ki Waitotara will look to build on into the future”.


The days of having a small two-roomed office have long gone for Parininihi ki Waitotara. Now with premises established at Taranaki House in New Plymouth the people who work behind the scenes to support the aspirations of the Incorporation take time to give insights into their role.

Teri-Rori Kirkwood (Te Atiawa/Tainui) As the Administration Assistant, TeriRori admits that she enjoys filing, finding a place for a record and ensuring it is easily accessible. Maintaining the records management database has allowed Teri-Rori to become more familiar with her role since her appointment in early 2011. “I only knew about the incorporation through my mother Mereaina (nee Pirikahu) who is a shareholder,” advises Teri-Rori. “My parents retired here after living in Waikato for a number of years and I relocated with my sons to help look after them a couple of years ago.” With her workstation behind the reception Teri-Rori takes pride in being able to make people who visit or call the office comfortable while they wait to meet or talk to another member of the Parininihi ki Waitotara staff. “I love working here with the staff, meeting shareholders, the farmers, visitors and even the big wigs who come into the office”, says Teri-Rori “Especially when the shareholders ring, its important they know they are being listened to and that sometimes leads to me supporting Nedina Hohaia, Shareholder Registrar with grant applications and PKW Trust activity.” When she isn’t busy doing her extramural study with Te Wananga o Raukawa completing her Masters in Maori Tikanga Theology, Teri-Rori is busy settling into life in Waitara and the voluntary roles she has as Pukerangiora Hapu Secretary/Treasurer and at St Saviors Anglican Church. “I’ve learnt a lot since I’ve been working here and look forward to learning more.”


Opened in early 2009 initially with only two staff, the offices situated on the corner of Devon and Robe Streets in New Plymouth have become the administration and operational hub of the Incorporation, completing the transition initiated in 2007 to total self-management.

Building internal capacity has taken time but now with the administration staff familiar faces to the shareholders, farming staff, suppliers and other businesses it seemed timely to profile the people who are helping make the Incorporation become the intergenerational business it is aspiring to be.

Caroline Waiwiri (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Koroki Kahukura) Coming from a time when her role as PKW Executive Assistant meant doing every administrative function you can think of, to now just supporting the role of the Chief Executive and Committee of Management, Caroline is pleased to be learning new skills in land management. It was in March 2007 that Caroline first started working for Parininihi ki Waitotara. Having returned home with her family to live in Opunake she knew she had what it took to do the job. “Initially I worked in a small two roomed office when Matua Spencer Carr was the Executive Chair. I didn’t really know a lot about the Incorporation only that the Trust existed for education grants so it was a big learning curve,” says Caroline. “With the appointment of a General Manager, at that time I don’t think any of us knew how things would evolve, but its been an amazing five years watching the growth as the capacity of the organisation grows.” Moving home for Caroline, whose parents are Julia and Basil Tumoana from Hawera, with husband Brent Waiwiri meant they could be involved in rebuilding Brent’s marae, Pokimi as well as have more to do with their extended whanau. “It’s important to me that we can live here working for our own people”, says Caroline. “My biggest challenge now especially as Parininihi ki Waitotara becomes more visible, is managing the demand on the Chief Executive’s time and energy.” Taking time out in 2008 to have a son sixteen years after her second son, Caroline returned to her role in 2009 ready to embrace the opportunity to develop new skills. Continued on following page

09 WHAKAMANA


“Part of my role now is to understand all of the legal jargon associated with Land Management. That includes property regulations, first right of refusals, lease renewals,” explains Caroline. Trained by Ranald Gordon, Land Assets General Manager Caroline ensures she reads every single legal document thoroughly before it is handed to the Committee of Management to sign. “It’s important I can understand all the fine print and clarify any legal definitions. This is all part of the positive growth that has happened here.” Nedina Hohaia (Taranaki/Te Atiawa) Looking for an opportunity to return to a gutsy administration role, Nedina saw the Registrar position advertised with PKW and knew instinctively that this would be a “perfect fit” both for her and the Incorporation. With a successful 18 months behind her, Nedina is satisfied that the role that was originally out-sourced is now an intricate part of the Incorporation’s new operational capacity. By getting a new shareholder database up and running, the ability to manage shareholder information has improved tenfold as has the ability to extract crucial reporting data when required. “Much of my time is spent handling enquiries from people wanting to protect their shares, to find out about succession processes, such as the steps required to take their applications through the Maori Land Court, advising people also on the benefits of constituting whanau trusts to curtail the fragmentation of their shares. Another important element of my role is to carry out searches for the Court to assist in the correct identification of prospective successors to shareholdings, and eventually to process the Vesting Orders through our Shareholder database when they have been through the Maori Land Court.” Professionally Nedina has had a long and diverse career background in tertiary management and administration, central government agencies in Wellington, and has included gaining a


tertiary qualification in health promotion which saw her become employed for a period as a Health Promotion Advisor in the public health environment of the Taranaki District Health board. “Though I am a shareholder myself, I have not involved myself with PKW in the past but since coming to work here, I am very proud to be involved with the Incorporation both as an employee and shareholder.” Shareholders will meet Nedina when they attend the AGM in October as she is the one who manages the registration process on the day. Nicky Clement After growing up on a Kaponga dairy farm Nicky went on to work in accounting for over 30 years with clients across the rural sector from freezing works to farm supplies. Nicky has several years experience in Chartered Accountancy work and with the commercial sector, having worked for a local freezing works and a farm milking machine and supplies franchise. A team building exercise held at a local marae lasty year has helped Nicky build her knowledge of tikanga and māori culture which she found an enjoyable experience. Nicky’s job is to prepare monthly financial reports for the PKW Financial Controller Dion Maaka, handle lease rentals invoicing and farm KPI reports for the farm managers. “My husband Grant and I moved from Hawera to live here in New Plymouth in 1995”, says Nicky. “We think as a family we are blessed that all three of our children have returned from living overseas in the last couple of years to raise their own families in Taranaki.” “With five grandchildren and another on the way I feel certain my extended family will benefit from her experiences with Parininihi ki Waitotara.” Continued on following page 11 WHAKAMANA


<< Tahlia Haskell (Ngati Mutunga/Te Atiawa) It was in 2005 when Tahlia first worked a short stint as administrator for the Incorporation. Returning in 2008 Tahlia has witnessed the growth and development of Parininihi ki Waitotara and developed her skills along the way. With her focus on completing her Bachelor of Business Management and Accounting Tahlia has also been able to develop her te reo Māori participating over the last two years in the Te Ara Māori programme through Te Wananga o Aotearoa with work colleague Dion Maaka, Financial Controller PKW. “I wanted to be able to improve my understanding so that when I attend meetings with shareholders and other Māori organisations I have a better understanding”, explains Tahlia. “Initially I started back as Dion Tuuta’s personal assistant while Caroline Waiwiri was away on maternity leave. When she returned I moved to a front of the office role that included reception work. I wasn’t sure how long that would last with the many changes happening within the organisation but once Dion Maaka came on board I was pulled into providing financial support and I’ve kind of grown into the role since,” says Tahlia. As the internal capacity of the Incorporation has increased so has the workload, especially with the increased farming operations. With her five year old son, Thomas, having recently started school, Tahlia is keen to continue her professional development. “I’ve seen significant growth for the better and am pleased to be part of the overall development taking place”, adds Tahlia.


AFTER SPENDING TIME WITH HINERANGI EDWARDS AT HER WHANAU PAPAKAINGA BASED WEST OF HAWERA YOU GET A SENSE THAT SHE WAS DESTINED TO BE EXACTLY WHERE SHE IS TODAY; A WIFE, A MOTHER, A BUSINESSWOMAN, A TE REO MAORI ADVOCATE AND AN AMBASSADOR FOR SELFDETERMINATION.

Ngaruahine, Taranaki, Te Pakakohi, Tangahoe, Ngāti Ruanui, Te Arawa, Tonga

LADY OF ACTION Growing up on the family farm, Hinerangi’s character and personality reflects the solid foundation parents Raymond and Rauna Edwards created for their children to emerge from. Actively engaged in education early on, Hinerangi remembers as a child watching her aunty Gloria Kerehoma and others create the kowhaiwhai panels for Kimihia te Rangimarie, one of the first school marae established in the country. “Education was always highly valued by mum and dad. Dad was on the board at the Hawera High School for 13 years. At his first meeting he was told “his Māori students” were causing trouble’. Dad’s response was if there was no place in the school where Māori students could see themselves reflected or valued then what was the school doing about it. He and a number of parents and staff then mobilised to establish Kimihia. Being the youngest of eight children, Hinerangi says her relationship with her brothers and sisters is special. “I sometimes feel like I’m less the youngest and more a bridge between generations having known three of 13 WHAKAMANA


Left to Right Hinerangi’s young sons Te Rawhitiroa, Karoro, Raihania and grand neice Pareamio share a moment at their whanau papkeinga. my four grandparents and many other nannies and koko. They taught me to respect what we have, do your best and think about future generations.” Hinerangi also attributes the strength she has in her reo to her parents enabling her and her siblings to access Taranaki reo learning opportunities by being part of church and marae initiatives.

our people were affected negatively by the raupatu, confiscation of our lands. The korero ‘maungarongo ki te whenua whakaaro pai ki te tangata’ was what our family values were based on. But as a young person I witnessed through the Waitangi Hearings claims process how my parents, especially my father, a staunch Ngaruahine and Tangahoe man, would be upset how the process created more conflict amongst ourselves.”

Reflecting on childhood experiences that helped shape her character and life, Having the experience of being an Hinerangi explains how her passion for exchange student living in Sweden for a Maori land development evolved. year and other scholarly achievements behind her, Hinerangi was awarded “I suppose the regular conversations in 1994 the Charles Bailey Memorial that my parents aunties and uncles Scholarship to help her BA (Maori) engaged in around our dining room studies at Victoria University. table related to a lot of disappointment and frustration about their lack of With Kiwa not present to give his side of control and management over their the story, Hinerangi smiles as she recalls ancestral lands,” reflects Hinerangi. how her future husband and father of her four children came into her life. “I didn’t appreciate at the time that they were talking about Parininihi ki Meeting Kiwa in her first year of studies at Victoria while he was completing Waitotara or the West Coast leases, his Masters thesis on Te Ua Haumene but I understood early on in life that

and the influence of the Pai Marire in Te Wairoa (Hawkes Bay). “He was keen to hear my mum was named after Te Ua – but he assures me there was more to his interest than that.” After a couple of years doing their own thing, including a return for Hinerangi to Taranaki, they reunited. Hinerangi completed her degree in Wellington and worked in employment and career planning. By this time Kiwa was lecturing at the university. A desire to have children influenced the young couple’s decision to return Taranaki. They realised that with their experience in using technology, reo, training and research they could develop their own business. So in March 2000, Aatea Solutions was established providing a suite of services in facilitation and training, research, reo translation. Ten years later they celebrated a decade of being in business by hosting a screening of the movie ‘Boy’ in Hawera as a way of thanking their local community and business associates for their support.


Those ten years have seen many changes occur for the couple. Along with her brother Will and his wife Mihi Ratima as well as her sister Maakere Edwards, they relocated some houses back onto their family farmland to replace her parent’s house that had accidentally burnt down. Raymond and Rauna had by this time retired and moved into Hawera and 60 ha of the farm block are being leased out to a neighbour. Sadly at this time Rauna was unwell and passed before the houses were completed for occupation but it is evident she has instilled in her children a strong sense of whānau. Two additional buildings, an office and a whānau space still under development were also relocated. “We lead very busy lives”, says Hinerangi. “So the whānau space allows us all to come together under the one roof to share a meal, catch up on each other lives, and have space for the whānau to come together. We have our first moko, our brother Simon’s granddaughter, Pareamio. We wanted to create a shared space for her generation, where te reo Māori is the predominant language.”

2007 was to become a watershed year for Hinerangi with the recent loss of her mother, pregnant with twins Te Rawhitiroa and Karoro Moetahuna, and mother to young daughter Rahiri Makuini. That year she was also appointed as PKW Associate Director. Since her appointment she has been elected and re-elected as a Director to PKW Incorporation and is presently chair of the PKW Trust. “It’s fair to say I came as a package, being elected while 8 months pregnant with twins.” laughs Hinerangi. “Some of the aunties said, ‘dear if you think you can do the job then we believe in you. That was huge. I knew there were great expectations from our people for our board to turn some big things around. It was like being hit with a tsunami in those initial years but I felt I could bring something to the table- some technical skill, heart from our people and family support that gave me the backbone to withstand the pressure.”

initiative. Both Tama Potaka and I came through that process and were elected later. You now see a different balance at the table.” “I now understand the business constraints by which PKW has to manage intergenerational assets. The limitations can be frustrating but we must always ask probing questions, think differently to get different results and never forget you are there for others,” says Hinerangi. “I’ve seen the changed shareholder perceptions and improved relationships evolving. I feel humble and proud to be part of this journey.” With another son Raihania joining her family in 2009 Hinerangi is now facing new challenges as she navigates the transition from living in Taranaki to colocating in Wairoa.

“Kiwa has been amongst my people for 12 years but now it’s time for him to go home. We are at a crossroads but we believe that part of being of a Hinerangi acknowledges Uncle Spencer dynamic Maori whānau is that there are Carr whose leadership brought a new compromises and the ability to support generation of directors through. “Uncle both of our rohe with commitment and energy.” Spencer drove the associate director


PKW chair Hinerangi Raumati acknowledged that the project was the Incorporation’s most significant single investment in Taranaki in the past five In the December 2011 issue of Whenua years and represented the long term we reported on the acquisition of leases commitment the Incorporation had from Ivan and Felicity Willis that saw for regaining control of its lands for the benefit of shareholders and their the purchase of the Matapu property whanau. of 127-hectares of land. Happening at

FEATURE

the same time was the purchase of the

“PKW’s investment in the farm - in the heart of Ngā Ruahine iwi - was not only around the Tempsky and Hastings Road about financial returns,” said Hinerangi. in the Okaiawa area. PKW was committed to finding ways of using whenua - its land - for These lease acquisitions brought employment for its people. together three separate properties into Murphy and McLeod leasehold interests

one significant land block creating a 221ha dairy farm that was formally opened in July by Ngā Ruahinerangi kaumatua Syd Kershaw. About 100 guests attended the opening of the farm’s new state-of-the-art, 60bail cowshed capable of milking 620 cows.

“Through the whenua, it is our expectation that Parininihi ki Waitotara can offer more meaningful economic opportunity for our people than just an annual dividend.”

take them up to benefit PKW, Taranakiwhānui and their own whanau.” She also recognised that the Willis family had controlled the whenua for more than 100 years. Ivan and Felicity, we thank you for being good and proper stewards of this whenua. We look forward to building on the productive history of this land for our people’s benefit.” Ms Raumati said 2012 was the 120th anniversary of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, which established the perpetual leases still remaining over 90 per cent of PKW lands. “Regaining control of our lands will take time. But if it takes 10 years or a hundred, PKW - like the iwi we share this space with - will remain constant.

“As PKW regains control of its land, “That constancy, which is grounded in we look to how we can pass on these opportunities to those willing and able to the whakapapa of our owners and the 16 PĀKIHI


THE $8 MILLION INVESTMENT IN LAND, PLANT AND LIVESTOCK AT THE LITTLE TEMPSKY ROAD 127-HECTRE PROPERTY HAS OFFICIALLY OPENED FOR BUSINESS.

legacy they each carry, allows us the benefit of knowing that no matter how long it takes, our goal will be reached.” Ivan Willis, the former chairman of the West Coast Lessees’ Association, was also present to congratulate PKW on the development. He said his family appreciated the Incorporation’s decision to retain gum trees planted by his greatgrandfather that reminded him of his home in South Australia in recognition of their long standing association to the land. Guests were then invited back to Kanihi Marae to share a hot drink and nibbles and it was an opportune time for the many contractors to mingle with shareholders and PKW Directors and Management. Now that the farm is up and running Gary and Sandra Fredrickson, who until last season managed the PKW farm >>


on Upper Glenn Rd in South Taranaki, are busy settling into the pattern of managing the new facilities that make up the dairy shed. Its features include walk-on weighing, the Livestock Improvement Corporation’s ProTrack system, and a SmartD-tect early mastitis warning system linked to electronic cup

removers and a teat spray system. The kevlar and fibreglass platform is earthquake-resistant and 22 per cent of the weight of a concrete platform, reducing wear and tear on bearings. Gary is familiar with new farm conversions and understands that sometimes there isn’t always a smooth transition.

Hinerangi Raumati (Top Left) and Ranald Gordon (Top Right) formally acknowledge and thank the various people involved in the construction of the new dairy unit.

“This time it’s been better than expected. As we were getting to grips with the facilities and ironing out any start up bugs I’ve been impressed with the whole farm. The land is responding well to fertisiliser and grazing and though our herd have come from 4 to 5 different places they are getting used to the new farm and shed as well as each other.”

18 PĀKIHI


With 22 year old second in command Casey McLean and 20 year old Shannon Martin as part of his team Gary is confident in their ability to pick up and maintain standards to ensure consistency of their milk product.

demonstrated to me how many parties are involved in wanting to make this venture a success,” said Gary.

“I’m even looking forward to making our workplace visitor friendly with boots and overalls,” laughs Gary. “Even a friendly “I was really proud to be at the opening. welcome notice - because I think it is To see so many people coming to important that we make it possible for an event like that for the first time shareholders especially to be able to

Top Left the completed holding pen Top Right Casey McLean at work Bottom Dottie gets some attention from Farm Manager Gary Fredrickson

come and see for themselves how we operate.” Envisaging what a landscaped visitors car park could look like, Gary is just happy his wife Sandra and sons Andrew and Ryan have settled in well. Even Gary’s 9 year old Hunterway Cross Dottie is happy.


PKW Leases A legacy from the Past 2012 represents the 120th anniversary of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act 1892 which made the leases over Taranaki Maori land perpetual. We revisit in this issue the original article in Whenua April 2010 which explained the perpetual leasing system and discussed particular issues that face the Incorporation under this system

The legacy of perpetual leasing over PKW’s lands arises from the West Coast settlement Reserves Act 1881. This Act vested the management of the lands granted to Taranaki Maori in 1880 (as part of the West Coast Commission) in the Public Trustee and empowered the trustee to lease the reserves. The Public Trustee was required to act in the best interest of the owners on the one hand and to promote the settlement of Taranaki on the other. The crown arranged for the management of all the reserves it created following confiscation to be vested in the Public Trustee who would allocate such land as was thought necessary to the Maori owners for their own use and occupation and lease the balance to European settlers. This required the Public Trustee to promote two potentially conflicting goals. The trustee ultimately favoured European settlement which was promoted through leasing. In 1892 the terms of the leases were made perpetual by the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act 1892. This process set in placeleases over the land PKW Now owns and manages on

behalf of its 9000 shareholders. Approximately 18,000 hectares of PKW land remains subject to perpetual lease in accordance with the Maori Reserved Lands Act. A perpetual lease – also known as a Glasgow lease – never ends but is subject to 21 year renewals.

to understand as PKW sometimes receives requests to take action on land it owns but has no direct control over.

The PKW’s corpus lands are therefore split into two separate ownership interests. These are the lessees’ interest or improvements, which comprise all buildings, improvements PKW leases may be renewed indefinitely on the land (including fences, drains, as long as the lease owner adheres to water supply etc), and improvements to the terms of the lease. Lease terms the land (eg – fertility created through include paying rent on time, adhering application of fertiliser). The second is to the 7-yearly rent review process and the unimproved value which PKW owns. renewing the lease every 21 years. Our tupuna protested against this A perpetual lease grants control of the system for many years seeking to bring land to the lessee. This means the about an end to the perpetual nature of lessee may use the land in any way they the leases. A compromise was reached wish so long as they continue to meet in 1997 when the Maori Reserved the lease terms. Any development Lands Amendment Act 1997 was the lessee undertakes on the land or passed reducing the rent review period to the land becomes an improvement from 21 years to 7 and granting PKW which they own. The value of this a first right of refusal to purchase the improvement belongs to lessee and leases as the come up for sale. becomes part of the value of the lease. Using these changes PKW has This is known as the lessee’s interest. purchased back 50 leases and built As control of the land rests with the PKW Farms Ltd into Taranaki’s largest lessee, PKW is statutorily unable to milk supplier to Fonterra. However have any say over what happens on apart from the 1997 changes the the land unless it purchases the lease. perpetual terms of the lease remain in This is important for shareholders place as they have since 1892. 20 ĀWHINA


PKW TRUST SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT IN 2009 AND 2010, TE REREKOHU TUTERANGIWHIU PRESENTS HIS REPORT AS A DOUBLE GRADUATE IN MARINE SCIENCE AND AQUACULTURE AS WELL AS MĀTAURANGA MĀORI Tena koutou e te whanau Tēnei rā te mihi whakaiti atu ki a koutou kua whakatinana mai tēnei honore nui mōku. He mihi tenei ki ngā uri maioha o te maunga tītohea, kua whakatō ai i ngā kakano hei hua mo ngā uri whakatupu. I roto hoki i ngā wā e pōkai kaha nei o tātou iwi, kua whakakikokiko nei e koutou i ngā kupu whakaari a Titokowaru, arā, e kore rawa tātou e mate, ka mate ko te mate, ka ora mai ko tātou, he kakano tātou i ruiruia mai i Rangiatea. Tihewa Mauri ora! Ko Te Rerekohu Tuterangiwhiu ahau. He uri no Te Ati-Awa, Taranaki Tuturu, no Te Tai Tokerau hoki. Tenei te whakaiti atu ki a koutou katoa.

In November of 2011 I completed a Bachelors Degree in Applied Science (majoring in Marine science and Aquaculture) at AUT University. I also have a Bachelors Degree in Matauranga Māori from Te Wananga o Raukawa.

together with Passive Acoustic Observers to monitor for the presence of marine mammals upon seismic survey vessels. Our job is to detect marine mammals, and advise the seismic surveyors of the appropriate actions to take, based on the knowledge of marine mammal behaviour, biology, and the marine mammal guidelines put in place by The Department of Conservation.

I am a first language speaker of te reo Māori and I am passionate about tikanga and kaupapa Maori. I am committed to promoting a positive Māori world view, and good relationships between Māori and others. Te Pē o whairangi Developments Ltd and Kaupapa Maori and Health My aspiration is to utilise marine Initiatives ecology, biology, aquaculture as tools to contribute to the protection, conservation, and the replenishment of fish stocks and the wider marine environment. Particularly in those areas that impact upon, and affect the wellbeing of te iwi Māori. I also wish to pursue opportunities in which aquaculture and marine enhancement can contribute to the development of customary fishery practices for Māori, and assist whanau and hapü in the management of their fisheries resources.

Currently I am engaged in some contractual mahi as a Marine Mammal Observer with RPS Energy Asia Pasific, and as a researcher of Matauranga Tuku iho with Te Pē o Whairangi Development Ltd. Marine Mammal observation My role as a Marine mammal observer involves working

I am a researcher and analyst for Te Pē o Whairangi Development Ltd who is involved in local community projects that encourage marae development and sustainability. I am involved in the Kimiora project, which apply research methods and kaupapa māori to bring about awareness to improve health outcomes within Marae communities. I am very humbled and appreciative of all of the opportunities that I have been given, and I hope to represent Te Atiawa, Ngāti Ruanui, Taranaki Tūturu, and Ngapuhi well in all of my endeavours. I hope to learn as much as I can while I have these opportunities, so that the skills that I learn may benefit Taranaki-whanui and Ngapuhi-nui-tonu in the future. Naku noa Te Rerekohu Tuterangiwhiu

21 ĀWHINA



ORIGINALLY CALLED THE PATEA MUSEUM AND THEN THE SOUTH TARANAKI DISTRICT MUSEUM, THE INSTITUTION WAS RENAMED AOTEA UTANGANUI - MUSEUM OF SOUTH TARANAKI, TO REFLECT THE MUSEUM’S LINKS WITH NGĀTI RUANUI AND NGĀ RAURU.

GRANT PROFILE The establishment of a museum in Patea came about through the commitment of passionate collectors who formed the Patea Historical Society in 1974 initially to reflect the eclectic and wide ranging interests of the founders and subsequent donors. Over the decades the building housed a number of exhibitions that celebrated the rich history and culture of South Taranaki. However as time went on it became evident that the building required extensive renovations to be able to appropriately house some of the taonga (treasures) that were coming into the museum. Despite having fundraised nearly $800,000 the South Taranaki District Museum Trust that had been formed to undertake this massive project, still had a shortfall of funding required to complete the renovations of the museum.

As a result of applying to the PKW Trust in 2009 they were successful in receiving a $20,000 grant. Though the organisation was not a Māori entity or shareholder/beneficiary the supporting letters from local iwi, marae and other Māori organisations showed overwhelming support from the wider community. “We recognised that by supporting this project we were contributing to the preservation and recognition of important taonga that lay in storage,” advises PKW Trust chair Hinerangi Edwards. “These taonga obviously are part of our own cultural history and we are pleased that through the dedication of a number of people, the museum has now been realised.” The purpose-built, architecturally

designed museum built on the main thoroughfare leading through Patea now provides a central point for culture and heritage in the South Taranaki district. The museum also has a large workshop that allows volunteers and part-time staff to restore and prepare artifacts and memorabilia for exhibition. With everything from textiles, clothing to technology, the workshop/storeroom has been Luana Paamu’s office since becoming a volunteer in 2007. Now with a permanent job as a parttime collections assistant Luana (Ngā Rauru/Ngāti Ruanui) works two days a week immersing herself in the diverse array of collections that inhabit her workspace. “I’m just happy to be part of a community driven initiative that will be here for future generations to enjoy, celebrate and learn from.” 23 ĀWHINA


GOING TO THE NBA SUMMER LEAGUE AND MEETING NBA PLAYERS LIKE SHAWN MARKS THE

FIRST NZ PLAYER TO PLAY IN THE NBA LEAGUE WHO IS NOW WORKING FOR THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS WAS BEYOND MY EXPECTATION

SPORTS GRANT Earlier this year sisters Roimata and Leila Blackburn attended the ‘Big Foot Hoop’ Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas USA as part of the NZ Basketball Academy U15s team and found the experience life changing.

United States, the Academy selected 23 players from around New Zealand for their first tour experience to the ‘Big Foot Hoops Las Vegas Live’ tournament held 22-26 July. This premier sporting event that attracts teams from around USA is seen as an important platform for discovering unknown talent by scouts from various Universities and academies.

four years old living in Papakura where Dad was in the Army. Each of us were coached then by Jordan Hunter who is now a NZ Tall Fern based at Crowder College in Missouri, USA and her sister Tania Hunter who is the NZ Selector for the U20 Girls Team”, says 15 year old Roimata.

Returning to Whanganui in 2004 to be closer to Matthew’s whanau, Roimata The Wellington based New Zealand For Roimata and Leila who are part of and Leila continued their involvement Basketball Academy is a new initiative a family of five girls to parents Matthew in basketball with their coaches that established by New Zealand basketball and Roimata Blackburn, the opportunity included ex NZ Breakers coach Wayne legend, USA expat Kenny McFadden. to travel to Las Vegas was a culmination Brown, Michelle Swain Assistant Recognising that talented players in of hard work and dedication to their Coach for the Manawatu Jets and New Zealand often left school unable to pursue their basketball career Kenny chosen sport. Having already attended Ryan Weisenburn ex Coach of the training camps and competitions in Los Angeles Lakers as well as Kenny set up the Academy to offer U13’s Australia, traveling to compete in the McFadden. upward to school leaving athletes, the opportunity to develop a sporting career USA was a penultimate dream come “If it wasn’t for our mentors and in basketball linked to tertiary education. true. coaches and the support of our parents “My younger sister Leila and I stated With Kenny’s knowledge of the NBA we wouldn’t be where we are now,” Summer League programme in the this sport when we were each only admits Roimata. 24 ĀWHINA


Daughters Leila (Left) and Roimata (Right) with parents Matthew (Atihaunui-a-paparangi / Taranaki / Te Atiawa), Roimata (Ngāti Hine / Ngapuhi)

13 year old Leila agrees, “Basketball has given us lots of opportunities to travel, meet new people, be coached and mentored by people from all around New Zealand and become confident in ourselves. Our passion for Basketball has taught us that it takes commitment and a lot of dedication with training.” “It’s the filing out of plays and drills and also the traveling to training and games while trying to balance this with our school work that is challenging but while we were at the tournament we made the most of our time implementing what we had learnt and putting it out on the court”. Achieving a credible 2nd place ranking at the tournament where the U15’s girls team played seven games in total only losing in the final, Roimata and Leila lapped up the atmosphere. They enjoyed meeting Steve Adams, younger brother to Olympic Shot

Put medalist Valerie; who joined their team as a mentor. Adams, who is presently at Pittsburgh University on an athletic scholarship, is a product of the Wellington academy as well. Another mentor who joined the NZ contingent during their visit was Kayla Kiriau, a NZ Tall Fern based at Sheridan College, Ontario, Canada. “They helped us a lot along the way and encouraged each one of us to strive for our goals that we had set for our future not only in basketball but also off the court in our studies at school. Being mentored by two New Zealanders who knew what it was like to go out into the home of basketball and play college ball in America was really valuable,” says Leila. “Going to the NBA Summer League and meeting NBA players like Shawn Marks the first NZ player to play in the

NBA League who is now working for the San Antonio Spurs was beyond my expectations,” recalls Roimata. By getting a first hand look at how the best players in the world train, prepare and play, Roimata and Leila along with their Academy team members now know exactly where the bar is set if they have goals of playing international basketball in the future. They have both been selected for the Koru Tour to the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup in Albury NSW in January 2013 and have already provided a photographic essay of their Las Vegas trip to the PKW Trust to acknowledge the sports grants they received. “We really appreciate the sponsorship we have received from PKW Trust as it helps our parents who are always there to support us.”

For further information on the various grants available visit www.pkw.co.nz/scholarships


Te Reo o Taranaki Trust has been at the forefront of the revitalization of Taranaki Reo for over twenty years now. As a result the positive effects of the multi-faceted strategic approach the Trust developed strategies that would recognize the language does not exist in isolation. One of those key strategies Te Whakaemi, led to the establishment of The Taranaki Maori Digital Archive, Te Pūtē Routiriata, where archives are electronically stored and includes information such as Audio and Video recordings, digital images, documents and scanned files. By offering this resource within Taranaki an opportunity has been created for whanau, hapu, iwi and other Maori entities to establishing their own archival resources. “It was with this in mind that we approached PKW in 2011 recognising their association with the long history of the West Coast leases and those records that have been accumulated over the years would hold significant archival value”, says Mitchell Ritai, General Manager Te Reo o Taranaki. In fact 349 historical lease files were transferred to PKW from the Maori Trust Office who had originally received them from the Public Trustee. “These files comprise the historical record of PKW’s leased lands dating from the 1880s”, advises Dion Tuuta, CEO PKW. “They are an irreplaceable record of the history of the perpetual leases and we wanted to make sure the records were protected” “What Te Reo o Taranaki Trust has offered us through Te Pūtē Routiriata is the opportunity to digitise these files which then still allows us the ability to use the information from the records while protecting the originals from any damage.”

be developed and implemented by staff at the Trust. “Once we have either scanned the piece of paper or taken a photographic image we then need to categorise what it is, how best it should be used as a digital image, and then how it can be easily accessed. Developing our in-house capability has been an organic process but it has also opened up huge opportunities for our organisation,” says Mitchell. Given that it is a specialist area, where the likes of Alexander Turnbull Library or National Archives based in Wellington are the usual organisations involved, the process would normally be too expensive and require moving records out of the region. “Though the records might be tedious reading through legal jargon, we are starting to see the history of the leases unfold with the use of traditional whanau names, and our distinct dialect used with letters written in Taranaki reo,” advises Rachael Ruakere who is part of the Archives Team for the Trust. “There are even references to Tohu Kakahi and Te Whiti o Rongomai in the correspondence but more disturbing the blatant guile of colonisation that sadly the documents demonstrate through legal processes used to dispossess and alienate our people from the land.” Having handled over 140,000 individual items, the Archives Team expect there will be huge interest from historians once all the items are fully digitised. “We are about two thirds through”, advises Mitchell “and part of our role will be working with the Incorporation to look at where to physically archive the material at the end of the project.”

For the Incorporation, 120 years after the West Coast Leases came into effect, this project is timely, “This project The process for cataloguing every was more than about protecting our single file is more complicated that just history as an Incorporation, it was also an important project to protect the scanning a piece of paper. It has a required a complex workflow process to history of our people”, adds Dion.


BY DEVELOPING THE TARANAKI MĀORI DIGITAL ARCHIVE PROJECT, TE PŪTĒ ROUTIRIATA AS PART OF A 10 YEAR TARANAKI MĀORI LANGUAGE STRATEGY, TE REO O TARANAKI NOW HAVE THE CAPACITY TO WORK WITH PARININIHI KI WAITOTARA TO ARCHIVE OVER 349 HISTORICAL LEASE FILES DATING BACK TO THE 1880’S.

Top Right Rachael Ruakere has become very familiar with the contents of the thousands of pages she has scanned. Centre Mitchell Ritai, Te Reo Taranaki Trust General Manager with team members Robin McLaughlin and Craig McFarlane. 27 MATAURANGA


Vision, innovation, partnership critical to Taranaki’s future. Stuart Trundle, Venture Taranaki

Modern day Taranaki is increasingly creative and confident. The region has been crowned home to the best place to live in New Zealand, the best small city in the world, and in recent years has regularly been a sweet spot of national economic growth.

Taranaki has an increasingly global network of expats and whanau who fly the flag far from home, and a growing legacy of ideas driving our businesses from strength to strength. But reaching the full potential of both our region and our people requires more than diaspora and innovation. It also needs partnership and vision. A great fusion of these was launched recently with Te Ara Puawai – the pathway to enlightenment. The series of sign boards that form the basis of the project will revive the often lost or, worse, forgotten history of some of Taranaki’s landmarks.

This link between past and present is important. As a region we must look to our shared past, not just the present, if we are to learn to see the future. At a New Plymouth lecture recently, Professor Sir Mason Drury called for a “new New Zealand” – a nation that combines strong vision, innovation, and partnerships to deliver a brighter future for its people.

“We must look to our shared past, not just the present, if we are to see the future.”

The project is the outcome of partnerships that Venture Taranaki, as Taranaki’s Regional Development Agency, has been able to build throughout the community. It is also an outcome of a vision for bilingual signage across Taranaki – a vision that could again position our region at the forefront of our nation.

When it comes to a more prosperous future for the region, Venture Taranaki is hard at work across all of these areas. This is driven by the vision that by 2035 Taranaki will be a progressive, growing, westward-looking province of national significance, renowned for its people, culture, talent, rich natural resources and desirable location.

The vision for Te Ara Puawai is to provide a blueprint for the whole region and the nation to adopt, forming a stronger partnership between Maori and Pakeha, past and present, people and land.

To achieve this vision we are working alongside Taranaki companies, groups, organisations and people to build their skills, unlock opportunities, and help attract the people our companies need to grow.


Photo: Rob Tucker

Venture Taranaki offers many programmes that aim to grow the region, its businesses and its people, whether they are at the start of their journey into business, or looking to take on the world.

We took Taranaki to the world, leading missions to attract skilled workers from around the world back to Taranaki to help our region achieve its population target of 135,000 by 2035 – a number we must reach to retain our slice of national funding pies.

Over the last year, we met with 274 people at our free Start-Up Clinics to help them assess their idea and guide them through the process of turning that idea into a successful business.

Taranaki is a fantastic place to live. Remembering its rich history, celebrating and assisting its innovative people and working towards an ambitious vision will ensure it can become an even better place to live in the future.

We matched 59 Taranaki businesspeople with experienced business mentors, helping them to learn more about running a business and gain an impartial sounding board for the challenges and opportunities they face. We helped 210 Taranaki business managers and directors build their skills, and those of their companies, through issuing $240,108 worth of Capability Development Vouchers. We issued 38 research and development grants worth a total of $1,093,380 to businesses in the region, ensuring that more great Taranaki ideas can be tested and taken to the market.

Venture Taranaki is privileged to be able to help Taranaki and its businesses achieve their aims. If we can help you achieve yours, then get in touch.

Venture

TARANAKI Te Puna Umanga

For more information on how Venture Taranaki can help your business, call us on 06 759 5150, email us at info@venture.org.nz or visit www.taranaki.info


Copyright Parininihi ki Waitotara 2012 109 Devon Street West | New Plymouth 4310 Taranaki | New Zealand


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