Raetihi iwi Ngati Uenuku is in the process of changing its legal entity.
The process began on February 1 and 2, Uenuku Tribal Authority (UTA) chairman Don Robinson said. It will not be finished until UTA ceases to do business and is signed off.
The UTA is an incorporated society,and the new entity will be a charitable trust. Its interim name is Uenuku Charitable Trust, but that could be changed at a meeting at Raetihi Marae at 10am on March 22.
The hui is an opportunity for Uenuku people to hear for themselves about the change. They will also have a chance to ratify the deed of the new trust.
Aiden Gilbert is to be its chairman, Marilyn Mako is the interim secretary and Mr Robinson will be on its committee. Mr Gilbert and Mr Robinson have been working on it together.
The new trust will have a deed, constitution, strategic plan and website where people can register. When it is established it will be able to offer social services. It could also have a role in the settlement of land claims in the Whanganui inquiry. The Waitangi Tribunal held hearings on the 70 claims in the large Whanganui inquiry district from 2007 to 2009. It is now writing a report.
Ngati Uenuku are the people of the middle reaches of the Whanganui River, centred on Raetihi. Mr Robinson said there were thousands of possible members, scattered across New Zealand and the world.
