Supporting Māori land governance in Te Whānau-a-Apanui
Pou Tāhu was privileged to recently attend and present at the Te Whānau-a-Apanui Māori Land Governance Multi-Agency Workshop, held at Te Kaha Beach Resort.
We presented alongside the Māori Land Court, Inland Revenue, ANZ Bank and Te Puni Kōkiri to share practical information about Māori land governance. Kaupapa included trustee roles and responsibilities, tax obligations, access to banking and finance, policy changes, funding opportunities and building capability within Māori land trusts.
Our Te Tumu Paeroa presentation focused on what good administration looks like for an Ahu Whenua Trust, the qualities of an effective trustee, the different roles the Māori Trustee holds, and how strategic planning can help turn whānau aspirations into meaningful action. We also spoke about the importance of involving rangatahi early, so they can learn about their whenua, attend meetings of owners and build the knowledge needed to become future governance leaders.
A key message throughout the day was that good governance is not only about managing today’s responsibilities. It is also about preparing tomorrow’s leaders, strengthening succession pathways and protecting whenua and collective assets for generations to come.
It was a great opportunity to connect kanohi ki te kanohi, share knowledge across agencies and support Te Whānau-a-Apanui in their governance journey.