Trust builds total assets to over $28m

CELEBRATION: The annual Matariki Koeke Ball is always a highlight for the iwi older people which Te Arawa Lakes Trust organises and funds. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

TE ARAWA Lakes Trust chief executive Roku Mihinui remembers clearly what was important to the iwi when it first entered into negotiations with the Crown.

"I was a [Te Arawa Maori] trust board member and was part of the decision-making around not lodging a treaty claim and to agree that we enter into direct negotiation with the Government rather then the tribunal process," he said.

"One thing that really sticks in my mind from those days was first and foremost it was about recognising the rangatiratanga (sovereignty) that Te Arawa had over and with the lakes, it was really important 'with' the lakes because then it was inclusive of the environmental aspect - it wasn't just a proprietary ownership but a kaitiakitanga aspect, guardianship role."

On December 18, 2004, the Crown and Te Arawa Maori Trust Board signed a deed of settlement which included acknowledging the Crown's historical breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi, a cultural redress package reflecting Te Arawa's relationships with the lakes, including transfer of 13 lakebeds and financial redress of more than $10 million. The Te Arawa Lakes Trust Board was formed as the new governance entity to receive and manage the redress. It became legislation in 2006.

Mr Mihinui said a decision was made to grow the financial asset base through various commercial investments and distribute the profits back to the people. Its latest annual report has the trust's total assets valued at $28.2 million.

"It was always felt the greatest benefit our people could derive from the settlement was around a Te Arawa entity that represented the 62 hapu that could engage directly with [government] agencies now that they were recognised through a treaty settlement and legislation."

Looking ahead, chairman of the trust board Sir Toby Curtis said he was confident in how well its commercial arm would continue to do.

"The important thing for me which has nothing to do with money, the real potential, will come in the next generation. We don't have the water back but as time goes and looking into the future the Crown will find it more difficult to keep telling us that we don't have the water. And it won't be in our time but our mokopuna or their mokopunas' time that Te Arawa will get the full benefit."

Sir Toby believed the demographic landscape of the country in the next 30 to 40 years would show a majority of Maori and Pacific Islanders with many holding senior managerial roles. "What we have to do in the meantime is ensure the people who are coming through are not only Maori by looks or talk but Maori in terms of wairua (spirit) and their culture. The main thing for us is to ensure Te Arawa young people are as Maori today as they were 100 years ago in terms of what is culturally important."

The trust has several projects involving youth which includes its employment and training unit, maara kai project with schools and the lakes programme haerenga. It also organises and funds the annual Matariki koeke ball for the iwi kaumatua and kuia.

" ... one aspect of the old board that we will continue is growing and unifying Te Arawa," Mr Mihinui said.