Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust (Te Mana) and TTA made the announcement in July last year, one year after the Deed of Undertaking was signed between the iwi.
The milestone meant Ngāti Rangitihi had resolved the overlapping claim issues it had with Tūhourangi and could proceed with voting on its Deed of Settlement.
Working closely with Skipwith during those negotiations was Te Mana chairman Leith Comer who had nothing but praise for the man.
"Allan was an exceptional person and a man of great integrity," he said.
"He was a man who always did what he said he would do and a man that you could rely upon. It was a great privilege and pleasure to know and work with Allan."
He said Skipwith's willingness to work with other iwi for a greater cause was a testament to his character.
"There always have been a few issues with Ngāti Rangitihi and Tūhourangi and Allan was able to work with me and Ngāti Rangitihi to overcome those differences and we jointly used the Ngāti Rangitihi settlement to bid for land which we got back.
"That was quite exceptional for one iwi to be able to use its Treaty settlement to settle longstanding issues with a neighbouring iwi. Allan was instrumental in making that happen."
Tūhourangi Tribal Authority chairman Alan Skipwith (left) and Te Mana chairman Leith Comer. Photo / Supplied
Comer said he also worked with Skipwith in 2017 when the two iwi jointly bought out popular Rotorua geothermal tourism business Waimangu Volcanic Valley.
The purchase brought important strategic and commercial benefits for the iwi.
"We worked closely on acquiring that asset for both of our iwi and Allan ended up being the first chairman of the joint Ngāti Rangitihi, Tūhourangi and Te Puia board and did an exceptional job at that.
"I have nothing but huge accolades for Allan. He leaves a great legacy and his loss will be a significant loss to us all. I have great admiration for the man who was exceptional in the way he went about doing things."
Comer said Skipwith also had "an illustrious business career" and did a lot of work in the wider Rotorua community.
"We were very sad when we heard of his illness, it was so sudden and unexpected. One thing Ngāti Rangitihi was really pleased with was that Allan was able to come to the signing at Matatā just before Christmas. His presence there was greatly appreciated."
Another with fond memories of Skipwith was Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick.
"Allan was a very dignified and humble man and a very reasonable man," she said.
"He came back to Rotorua from overseas to give back to Tūhourangi and became a wonderful leader. He was a bridge-builder and when he asked for a meeting you knew it was something important to keep things moving forward.
"He was a lovely man who I respected greatly. I think he will be really missed as Tūhourangi continues to move forward and progress future opportunities, but others are stepping up to the pae and I think that has in large part been due to Allan's leadership."
Skipwith's passing was announced with "great heartache" in a death notice.
"Dearly loved son of Patricia and the late Hamiora Skipwith, beloved husband of Janice (nee Hindrup), cherished father of Jonathan and Melanie and David.
"Adored grandad of Sophie and Emily, eldest and much-loved brother of Amiria (d), James, Hohepa, Hamiora (d), Patricia, Tewaiti, Rex (d), Marcia and Dawn."
He was to lie in his home in Rotorua for two nights before being taken to Te Pakira Marae, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua for two nights until today.
His funeral service was held today at the Distinction Hotel.
