Expert assistance for Te Aupouri

DOWN TO WORK: Evan Nathan (right), who has been appointed interim manager of Te Aupouri Maori Trust Board, and Te Runanga nui o Te Aupouri CEO Mike Stevens.

Evan Nathan, a former regional manager for the Department of Labour, has been appointed as the interim manager for Te Aupouri Maori Trust Board, whose job will be to help to facilitate the transitioning of the board's activities to the Aupouri Runanga, as a consequence of the Te Hiku settlement legislation.

At the request of the board, Te Puni Kokiri assisted the board and runanga to engage Mr Nathan to manage the board's affairs.

He has strong connections to the Nathan whanau in the North (Waipoua), and offers extensive management experience. He helped implement a new business development group for the Ministry of Maori Development, Te Puni Kokiri, his career in Maori business facilitation and development including supporting the activities of Landcare/Manaaki Whenua, the Poutama Trust and Te Tumu Paeroa (the Maori Trustee).

"I'm here to provide some interim stability for the trust as it prepares to be disestablished, and as much as possible minimise the impact of the current situation, financially, organisationally and personally, which will ultimately assist the new iwi runanga to take up responsibilities for leading the iwi over the coming months," he said.

Meanwhile Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell has appointed Grant Taylor (Wellington), managing partner of Ernst and Young, to lead the ministerial investigation into the affairs of the Aupouri Maori Trust Board, under the Maori Trust Boards Act. The investigation will ascertain the facts and circumstances that resulted in the board's current financial situation, which has seen iwi businesses close their doors and lay off staff.

Te Runanga Nui o Te Aupouri CEO Mike Stevens said he was heartened by the support expressed by both Mr Flavell and Treaty Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson during the final reading of the Te Hiku Settlement Bill in Parliament, and their commitment to help Te Aupouri at this time.

"This is exactly the type of response that was required, and we are thankful that the ministers are willing to continue to support the trust board in preparing and consolidating its affairs to hand over to the runanga," he said.

"Our people are cautiously optimistic that we can clear up the situation and find some common sense solutions to the problems that the trust board has experienced. No one wants to begin a new era for Aupouri on the back foot, when there is such an opportunity on our doorstep to make huge advancements now in Te Hiku for our iwi and the wider Northland community."

The trust board and runanga met with Mr Nathan for the first time last week, and will be meeting with the ministerial investigators over the coming weeks.