Key Board Messages – Paengawhāwhā 2024 

Tēnei matou, ko ngā manu hiakai, e hiakai ana i te miro o te matauranga – koia te hua o te wānanga nei. 

Continuing on our Pā based Board hui, we were at Te Aroha o Tītokowaru on Friday 19th. He mihi tēnei ki a Ngāti Manuhiakai, ki ngā komiti o te Hapū me te Pā hoki. 

A key whakaaro that fell out of the hui was hiakai, particularly the insatiable hunger and curiosity that drives wānanga and strong decision making.  This is reflected in the future focused joint wānanga sessions between Te Korowai Board and the leadership team, and the full day of governance training on Saturday 20th. 

Ngāti Manuhiakai  

We took the opportunity to hear from Ngāti Manuhiakai about their priorities. We acknowledged the two years of delays in responding to tono from Ngāti Manuhiakai, and the Board made a commitment to making a decision over the next quarter in  relation to their tono. 

Tiriti Claims Policy 

We approved the new Tiriti claims policy.  The policy introduces a decision-making framework to consider whether to escalate a claim to the Waitangi Tribunal (or any of the other tribunals or courts) regarding Ngāruahine rights and interests. 

Ongoing compliance 

To ensure we model ngā mātāpono, we also approved other policies and guidelines: 

• Protected disclosures (whistleblowing) policy which encourages a speak up culture at Te Korowai and protects those who do so 
• Representation policy which facilitates and encourages our people and our interests in local, regional, national and international appointments 
• Standing order guidelines which details the procedural expectations of the Board and sub-committee hui.   

Te Kīwai Mauī 

We received our quarterly update from Te Kīwai Mauī, this included progress on our priority projects: 

• Te Rere o Kapuni has faced a series of delays over the last couple of years, however, as we lead up to the final stages – there will be more information regarding opportunities for uri. 
• The Whakaahurangi, Kāinga and Project Tūkau business cases are in development and due midyear. Keep an eye out for upcoming hui. 

Submissions 

Submissions for the Fast Track Approvals Bill has closed. We held a submission workshop to support uri to formalise their views on the Bill. 

We urge you all to put pen to paper to write submissions for upcoming take –Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua Collective Redress Bill (the “Maunga Settlement Bill”) which closes 22 o Haratua and the Tiriti

Principles Bill which will go before select committee later this year.   

We’ll keep you posted with that date as it comes to hand.       

Wānanga – business model and engagement 

The Board and leadership team came together to wānanga our business model and engagement. Whilst Te Korowai has strong strategies, this workshop ensured that our business model achieves those strategies and maximises benefits. Often, PSGEs fall into a space of working year by year or being output orientated. This wānanga made us reflect on how we use data analysis to monitor our performance, drive good decisions and how we can be tactful moving forward to maximise benefits for Ngāhuahine in the future. 

Equally, we did a deep dive into engagement and how we prioritised engagement. We are overwhelmed by different rōpū and the pressure to engage. What planning can we put in place to ensure we aren’t distracted and that we stay focused on engagement with those who we serve – Ngāruahine. 

Mahi whakangungu ā-Poari 

The Board stayed overnight at Te Aroha Marae and together with Te Kīwai Mauī welcomed Institute of Directors facilitator Susan Huria, no Ngāi Tahu me Ngāi Tuahuriri, to deliver governance essentials training to Trustees, Directors and kaimahi. This was an excellent opportunity for whanaungatanga between the boards and to build on our understanding of governance best practice within a Group structure. 

Pai Mārire!