Governance
TE POARI
Governance
He kawenga ki te iwi
Governance is about the responsibility entrusted to us by our people. Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board is governed by elected Trustees who provide leadership, strategic direction and oversight on behalf of Ngāti Tūwharetoa.
Their role is to ensure the Trust Board remains focused on the collective interests and aspirations of our iwi, and that the decisions we make contribute to the strength, wellbeing and future of Tūwharetoa
Tikanga Tūwharetoa
Our governance is grounded in tikanga Tūwharetoa, accountability and service to our people. The responsibility is significant. Our Trustees carry the trust placed in them by our whānau, hapū and marae, while making decisions that consider both the needs of today and the generations who will follow.
At the heart of this is Mahi Rangatira ki te Iwi, our commitment to make it work for our people. It means keeping our decision-making connected to the aspirations of our iwi and ensuring a clear line between the decisions we make, the mahi that follows and the outcomes we seek for our people. Our strategic plan provides direction for this mahi, with Tūwharetoa tikanga as our foundation and filter. This helps ensure our governance decisions are grounded in who we are as Ngāti Tūwharetoa and contribute to the mana motuhake of our whānau, hapū, marae and iwi
Our Trustees
Our Trustees are elected to represent the collective interests of Ngāti Tūwharetoa. They bring their knowledge, experience, relationships and commitment to the role, providing leadership across the matters that affect the future of our iwi.
As governors, their role is to set strategic direction, make decisions in the best interests of Tūwharetoa and hold the organisation accountable for delivering on the kaupapa entrusted to it.
Sarah Asher
Board Member
Maria Nepia
Board Member
Rongomaitengangana Te Heuheu
Board Member
Ngahere Wall
Board Member
Danny Loughlin
Board Member
Judy Harris
Board Member
Channey Iwikau
Board Member
Heemi Biddle
Board Member
Hon Dame Georgina Te Heuheu
Deputy Chairman
John Bishara
Chairman
Governance and management
Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board exists to protect, grow and pass on benefits to Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Our governance and organisational structure supports this responsibility by keeping decision-making clear, accountable and focused on the long-term interests of our people.
Governance And Operations
There is an important distinction between governance and operations.
Our Trustees provide leadership, strategic direction, oversight and guardianship of the taonga and interests entrusted to the Trust Board. They set the direction and ensure the organisation remains focused on its purpose, grounded in tikanga Tūwharetoa and accountable to the iwi.
Our management and kaimahi bring that direction to life. They deliver the services, programmes and kaupapa that support our whānau and hapū, responding to the needs and aspirations of our people and turning strategic decisions into meaningful mahi.
Our Commercial Interests
Our commercial interests also play an important role in supporting the wider aspirations of Tūwharetoa. By generating sustainable income and growing our collective resources, our commercial activity helps enable investment back into kaupapa that benefit our people across areas including education, health, culture and the Taiao.
Working Together
Our mahi also sits within a wider network of Tūwharetoa entities and relationships. We work alongside related entities, including Ngāti Tūwharetoa Fisheries and the Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust, recognising that our shared strength comes from working together towards the long-term wellbeing of our iwi.
Together, these parts form an interconnected system of governance, operations, commercial activity and relationships, each with its own role, but connected by a shared purpose:
To protect what has been entrusted to us, create value for our people today, and pass on lasting benefits for generations to come.
Ngā Mahi And Ngā Taituarā
Our strategic plan describes the relationship between governance and operations through Ngā Mahi and Ngā Taituarā.
Ngā Mahi
Ngā Mahi, What we deliver.
Ngā Mahi are our work programmes, initiatives and kaupapa — the mahi undertaken to achieve the outcomes we are seeking for our people.
Ngā Taituarā
Ngā Taituarā, What enables us to deliver.
Ngā Taituarā are the systems, tools and day-to-day activities that support our mahi and enable our programmes to be delivered effectively.