Major farming business Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation appoints new chairman

Shar Amner is the third generation of his whānau to be on the Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation board.

Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation has named Shar Amner as its new chairman.

Ātihau-Whanganui is one of the country’s biggest farmers and represents more than 9000 Māori shareholders and whānau.

The incorporation operates 42,000ha of ancestral land from Ohakune to Whanganui, including eight sheep and beef stations, a dairy farm, forestry and 3000 beehives.

The organisation’s shareholders are descendants of the original owners, who belonged to Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi and Whanganui iwi.

Amner steps up to the role after eight years on its governance board, the Committee of Management.

He has chaired Te Ohu Mana Whenua (the Farm and Environment Subcommittee) as well as Te Ohu Tātari (the Audit and Risk Committee) and Te Āti Hau Trust, which provides sport, education, health and wellbeing, and marae grants to shareholder beneficiaries.

The father of two is also a former chairman of Ngāti Rangi Trust.

“It is an honour to take on this responsibility and follow in the footsteps of many others who have led the way in the kaitiakitanga of our incorporation, our whenua and our people,” Amner said.

“I want to acknowledge my koro Mark Gray, who served for two decades on the inaugural board.

“He raised me, and my reflections today are of his support for me over the years, including as a third-generation whānau member of the Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation board.”

Amner also paid tribute to his predecessor Dr Brendon Te Tiwha Puketapu.

“I acknowledge Tiwha’s chairmanship and his contribution to the organisation as a board member.

“His 12-plus years of service to the incorporation included chairing Te Āti Hau Trust and Te Ohu Tātari, our Audit and Risk Committee.

“In the past few years as chairman, he led the incorporation through a significant period of change and navigated us through particularly challenging economic times and a difficult global environment.”

Amner welcomed incoming board member Hamish Blackburn.

“As a farmer, Hamish brings an additional skillset and I look forward to the contribution he’ll make to the board.

“We have a good balance of newer and more experienced members, bringing diversity to our skillsets, thinking, experiences and connections.”

Amner said the incorporation had an important year ahead, with a new chief executive to be appointed.

“Maintaining our momentum as we navigate through this uncertain economic world will be front and centre but we are pleased to see some positive signs in the global markets.

“Farm productivity will be another area of focus.”

The Committee of Management is Shar Amner, Dr Rāwiri Tinirau, Keria Ponga, Whatarangi Murphy-Peehi, Kemp Dryden, Sarah Rae and Hamish Blackburn.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.