Trust Tairāwhiti is not restricted to supporting endeavours that encourage or sustain regional economic growth - that is only one of the ways that the trust can benefit the Tairāwhiti community (clause 5.1.2 of the Trust Deed).
In March 2024, a distribution of $40 million was approved and paid to ENCT. The purpose of this was to establish an investment portfolio that would generate income and allow ENCT to deliver on its purposes. Note 25 in the trust’s full financial statements explains this.
Doug Jones, Trust Tairāwhiti chief executive
Broader entitlement to benefits
As the inaugural chairman in 1993 of the Eastland Energy Community Trust (predecessor to Trust Tairāwhiti) and who chaired the trust for the next six years, I have maintained my interest in its activities since then - notwithstanding I have not resided in Gisborne for the past 25 years.
From time to time I have been concerned with misinformation from some members of the public regarding the trust’s activities and mandates.
The latest example of this comes from your correspondent, Winston Moreton, whose recent letter misrepresents the beneficial entitlements to trust distributions. His letter demonstrates the dangers in quoting a single clause out of any legal document without recognising its context, along with the intention of the document overall.
Although he correctly identifies the beneficiaries as set out in the Trust Deed, had he read further he would have seen, under Clause 5, Purposes of the Trust, section 5.1.2. the following: “To provide for the beneficiaries in such manner as the Trustees shall from time to time decide . . .”; and “Supporting business, community and other initiatives which in the opinion of the Trustees are likely to encourage or sustain economic growth within the district . . . for the benefit of the beneficiaries.”
Without being privy to deliberations of the current trustees, or indeed without knowing the objectives of the Eastland Network Charitable Trust, I assume the trustees have taken into account the above, and their decision to make a grant to ENCT is entirely correct.
During my tenure as chairman, the trustees recognised the broader entitlement to benefits than that assumed by your correspondent, and in fact, had the criteria he claims been adhered to verbatim, many grants over the years would have not been made in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Deed.
There is always room in a democratic society for differences of opinion as to the decisions made by representative bodies, but if they are operating within their mandates, that is how things work.
So far as the trustees of Trust Tairāwhiti are concerned, at no time have I had cause to consider they were not acting properly, and within their mandate.
Ian Miller, Warkworth
Māori representation needed
Democratic representation traditionally favoured men of property (i.e. rich and white) and the history of the 20th century largely documents the struggles of working men, women and minorities to gain access to the decision-making table.
Local democracy in New Zealand was historically structured to exclude Māori (whose land was not owned individually) and Māori wards are just one instrument of historical redress.
Those of us whose ancestors gained residency rights in Aotearoa through te Tiriti would do well to remember what a debt we owe Māori and how lucky we are to live here. It is entirely proper that Māori wards be universally mandated throughout Aotearoa and I congratulate Gisborne District Council on its decision to retain Māori ward representation in spite of currently retrograde government policy.
Get your head out of your own importance, rednecks, and read our nation’s history. It’s not a pretty story and reactive witterings about “democracy” and “your rights” don’t reflect well on you.
Geraldine Oliver
More important issues
To all those moaning their posteriors off about the Grey Street layout, may I suggest that there are other slightly more important issues that you could put your energy into?
For example, the world is getting hotter and hotter like never before and we have a Government studiously ignoring that. Instead, it is hell-bent on stoking massive racial disharmony and, with the Reserve Bank, hell-bent on wrecking the country economically.
Turning your attention to these matters would be much more productive than constantly rabbiting on about something that in the grand scheme of things is of little consequence.
If you really can’t manage to change tack, try getting a life instead.
Bruce Holm
