From Te Tumu W’akaae: End of year mi’i

Reflecting on the last year

This year has been as fast paced and busy as they come for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui with some big kaupapa pulled across the line, managing challenges with our investment arm and ensuring we continue to support our uri and w’ānau.

The Trust Deed Review was a huge kaupapa that began in November of 2022 and took the duration of the year to get over the line. It had not been reviewed since 2010 and so was well and truly needed to modernise and become more effective within the current climate.

With the support of the uri vote, it successfully passed with 96.8% support and will come into effect in early 2024.

Taranaki Tū Mai 2023 was another success. We mi’i to all uri who travelled near and far to represent Ngāti Ruanui. It was awesome to once again see the pride and competitive spirit of our people on display. A huge mi’i to Ngāti Tama for their organisation of this years event.

A challenging year for investment

Ngāti Ruanui Holdings, or the investment arm continued to manage an investment portfolio in challenging headwinds.

The economy is facing some strong headwinds due to a wide range of global influences and domestic pressures. These pressures have trickled down to w’ānau, affecting the cost to live and increasing inflation.

For the first time in my time as chair, Holdings has returned a deficit which is dissapointing but is very much being widely experienced across the sector.

Continuing to support our uri

Considering the above, we have thankfully been able to maintain support for our uri with free health services at our health clinics across ‘āwera and Pātea.

We have supported uri with jobs, increasing employment at the berry farm, and in the Tahua space. In education, we continue to provide education and sports grants, whilst also supporting the upgrades of our marae.

We are working toward implement a housing strategy in accordance with South Taranaki District Council. The strategy has a goal of achieving affordable housing by increasing housing supply and making the consent process easier. We are excited to share this vision early next year.

Additionally, we have been working alongisde ‘Ka Uruora’ to setup an iwi-reinvestment scheme called ‘Whānau Saver’, which operates similarly to KiwiSaver. This is again a work-n-progress which we will be able to share in due course.

Maintaining a strong strategic direction

As a board of Pou Tuara, we have remained strong to our strategic direction - Ngāti Ruanui Mo’oao-nui, whilst ensuring we deliver tangible results and outcomes for w’ānau.

This year has seen us empower new sub committees to advance key kaupapa - building a path forward for our tikanga and Reo, education and employment, environment, social, wellbeing and health.

We continue to present our position on a range of matters including appearances at Parliamentary Select Committees and submissions to our local councils. Significant changes are still being managed through Three Waters Reforms and RMA changes, along with multiple regional and local planning documents.

Final words

It is a privilege and an honour to be the Chair of Ngāti Ruanui. A role that depends on the goodwill and support of many others. To the Pou Tuara I thank you both for your steadfast commitment to working in the best interests of our people.

To our w’ānau and uri, Meri Kiri’imete me ngā mi’i o te tau ‘ou.