Hoea te pae Tahiti ki te papa whenua o wakatū - Parininihi ki Waitōtara bids a fond farewell to a key change-maker

He made a five-year commitment when he joined Parininihi ki Waitōtara, and he’s been true to his word. Now one of the incorporation’s favourite sons is heading home south as Chief Financial Officer of Wakatū Incorporation. Moana Ellis talks to Joe Hanita.

"It's not e noho rā, it's ka kite anō".

With those words, Te Raumāhorahora/Chief Financial Officer Joe Danita leaves Parininihi ki Waitōtara to answer the call of his ūkaipō in Te Tauihu, the top of the South Island.

It will be an emotional homecoming for the 42-year-old who says the time is finally right to reconnect with his grandmother’s legacy.

But after five years with his Taranaki whānau, it will also be a sad farewell.

“Part of my journey in coming to Taranaki is that I’ve discovered I’m actually from here – I have whakapapa to Te Ātiawa, Puketapu hapū and Taranaki Iwi, Parihaka papakāinga and Tuhekerangi.

“It’s been a great learning journey with ngā iwi o Taranaki, discovering the distinct kawa and the grace of the tikanga.

“Here we welcome people with open arms and do that first through harirū, before kōrero. My understanding is that this intent has come out of Parihaka and the approach of peace, humility and manaakitanga.

“I will miss those things that have been here a lot longer than us, and I will miss looking out of my window and seeing and feeling the presence of our maunga.”

Joe joins Wakatū Incorporation in August, working with the incumbent Chief Financial Officer John Smith as he transitions towards his retirement in December. Based in Whakatū (Nelson), Wakatū has 4,000 owners descending from four iwi: Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama and Te Ātiawa.

He will be responsible for overseeing a large team in a variety of complex and diverse businesses, ranging from export food and beverages, and commercial and residential development, to AuOra, a health and wellness business.

Joe was appointed three years ago as an Associate Director for Wakatū as part of its succession and leadership development programme.

He says he’s been looking for more opportunity to reconnect with whakapapa on his father’s side in Te Tauihu. The new role with Wakatū was an opportunity not only to return home but also to learn and grow.

“This is an expanded role in an active trading business environment. While Wakatū is similar to Parininihi ki Waitōtara in that it encompasses agribusiness and property, there is a more direct exposure to domestic and international export markets. I’m looking forward to the innovation space and excited to learn.”

It took time – several months – to consult, reflect and finally make the decision to leave Taranaki and head south.

“I give my heart when I join an organisation – that creates purpose for me,” Joe says.

“My focus is making sure our organisations are enduring and there for the next generation to build on.

“But change is the only constant in life. Our own journeys of growth make space for others to step into our roles and grow, and from that we become a stronger organisation.” “I have fond memories from my time here. I will miss the relationships. But my connection is not severed but reconnected and forever strengthened.”

As part of this undertaking, Joe will stay on as the independent chair of the audit and risk committee for Te Kotahitanga o Te Ātiawa Trust.

As Te Raumāhorahora/Chief Financial Officer, Joe has for the past five years overseen the PKW Group’s financial affairs. Apart from some careful adjustments due to the arrival of Covid-19, Parininihi ki Waitōtara has been in growth mode for much of that time, seeking out means to diversify and optimise the business portfolio and building key relationships and partnerships.

Joe has been a leading contributor to strategic development and implementing long-term plans.

“I’m a bean counter by nature – economics, dollars and cents. But Parininihi ki Waitōtara gave me the opportunity to explore ways to define value differently.”

“It resulted in the outcomes framework Te Ara Putanga, which the incorporation uses as a standard to make decisions, measure performance, outline intent and achieve outcomes in our business activities, and we are seen as a standard setter in that space.”

“Ultimately, Te Ara Putanga allowed us to measure how we create value, not just in economic terms but through how we undertake business culturally, how we look after the whenua, the people and how we build relationships.”

Te Rau Matomato/Chief Executive Officer Warwick Tauwhare-George says as an impact framework, Te Ara Putanga is ground-breaking.

“It puts a lens across all governance and operational decisions to drive positive social, cultural, economic and environmental outcomes, and holds management and boards to account.

“We have had Māori and non-Māori organisations ask to get hold of it and replicate it.

“In my view, Te Ara Putanga is one of the key pieces of strategic thinking in New Zealand – and it was spearheaded by Joe,” Warwick says.

“I don’t think we’ll ever replace Joe in terms of strategic acumen. It’s like I’ve just cut off my right arm.”

Warwick says Joe has had significant influence at Parininihi ki Waitōtara, working the numbers for operations over the full breadth of the business. He also helped develop and drive the incorporation’s social procurement strategy.

“He’s a rare combination: a numbers man who understands people, who understands Māori business and uses strategic focus to bring it all together, to take a vision and make it happen.”

"I feel privileged to have worked with him and we will miss him. Simply put, he is family."

Wakatū Chief Executive Kerensa Johnston, of Ngāruahine says Joe’s role as Chief Financial Officer at Wakatū will encompass the challenges and opportunities that come with an international business that exports to more than 40 markets around the world.

He will also manage the day-to-day requirements associated with an organisation owned by whānau and hapū.

“Joe’s extensive experience gained at Parininihi ki Waitōtara, combined with his integrity and commitment to te ao Māori, stands him in good stead for his new role,” Kerensa says.

Joe says he views PKW and Wakatū as sister incorporations.

“They were established around the same time – Parininihi ki Waitōtara in 1976 and Wakatū in 1977 – through the same piece of legislation and with the same interests of land ownership established under a perpetual lease regime.

“We have a lot of shareholders in common, too,” he says. “The four iwi that whakapapa to Wakatū come from Kāwhia to Taranaki and were part of a migration to Te Tauihu.”

Both incorporations have developed land use interests based on agriculture but have diversified differently.

With a turnover of $120 million, Wakatū is a vertically integrated full-value chain, which means it has ownership from growing kai on its whenua, processing it and selling overseas direct to customers under its own brands. It operates a diversified food and beverage business under the Kono brand, which includes vineyards and wineries, the well-known Tohu and Kono wines and Annie’s Fruit Bar.

It is one of the largest growers and processors of seafood in Aotearoa, from harvesting kōura to growing mussels in the Sounds, and also has comprehensive residential and commercial property interests, including residential subdevelopment.

The last part of the business is AuOra, a consumerfocused health-solutions business with the focus on wellbeing and active ingredients obtained from the natural resources of Wakatū.

“The big thing for me is I feel emotionally connected to the legacy that Wakatū is creating and the type of work that they’re doing,” Joe says.

“I’m excited about the scale of the operation, learning more about primary industries, and being able to reconnect with my grandmother’s whakapapa.” Te Rau Toi Ariki/Chair Dion Tuuta says Joe is a loved and respected member of the Parininihi ki Waitōtara whānau.

“He’s been a fantastic Chief Financial Officer. He’s made a lasting contribution to the legacy of Parininihi ki Waitōtara and we’re really going to miss him.

“He’s going back home to his Wakatū whānau and we wish him all the best. We’re proud of him, the work he’s done with us, and his contribution.

“He’s one of us and always will be. That’s never going to change, no matter where he is.”