The Ngātiwai Trust Board will not tolerate any form of violence against whānau.
 
New Zealand has unacceptably high levels of abuse towards woman and children – physical, mental and sexual.  This is a problem we face within our own whānau, marae, hāpu and iwi.  We need to acknowledge that it is happening, and as Ngātiwai, we want to make a firm stand – we will no longer tolerate it.
 
Ngātiwai wants a future free of violence against all tamariki, wāhine, tāne and whānau in Aotearoa.
 
Ngātiwai Chairman Haydn Edmonds says “We will advocate for child and whānau rights, we will support and promote positive strategies in our communities, with zero tolerance to all forms of violence within our whānau.”
 
“It saddens me when I open the papers to reports that New Zealand has one of the worst records of child abuse in the developed world.”
 
On average, a New Zealand child dies every five weeks as a result of violence, with most of these children aged under five and the largest group is less than a year old.
 
“Ninety percent of all tamariki deaths are perpetrated by someone the child knew, and in many instances, a member of their own whānau.  As an iwi we firmly believe we have a role to play in turning these terrible statistics around.”
 
E mea ana a Ngātiwai me mahara tātou ki te mana, te tapu me te mauri o te tangata. Me mutu te tūkino ahatia pēhea nei. Poipoia wa tātou nei tamariki kia pakari ai ngā rangatira o āpōpō. Me meinga ngā kāinga me ngā marae hei wāhi taurikura mo te whānau, hapū me te iwi.
 
Ngātiwai statement to the world is that every person is tapu, and has mana and mauri. We need to ensure that all forms of abuse and violence cease.  Nurture our tamariki to be strong Ngātiwai leaders of tomorrow.  Ensure all homes, workplaces and marae are safe havens for whānau, hapū and iwi.

“The days of sweeping this type of behavior under the carpet is over.  We encourage people to call out the abusers.  Allow those that have suffered abuse to come out and let their stories be heard.  By doing so, letting them heal and try to still have a happy and fulfilled life.”
 
Contacts:      Haydn Edmonds, Chairman, Ngātiwai Trust Board
                        Phone:  09 430 0939
                        E-mail: haydn@ngatiwai.iwi.nz
                       
                        Barry Caldwell, Communications Advisor Ngātiwai Trust Board
                        Phone:  021 728 291
                        Email: barry.caldwell@ngatiwai.iwi.nz
 
ENDS

• Budget: - The Ngātiwai Trust Board Budget Forecast to the year ended 31st March 2019 was approved by Trustees.

 

• Sponsorships: - 1 sponsorship application was considered and granted a payment of $2k.

The reminder of this meeting was spent In-Committee
 

Marae Dividends: - That NTB Operations look into the feasibility of increasing all marae dividends in this year’s budget and report the outcome back to the Board.
 
NTB Annual Plan: - A copy of the Trust Board’s Annual Plan was provided in the Board Report and copies were also available at the recent Hui-A-Iwi.

NTB Budget: - It was agreed that a Trustee workshop to discuss the NTB Budget for 2019 would be held on Friday 13th April.

Scholarships: - For Adult Tauira and School Leavers will be opened on the 9th April and close on 31st May 2018. Applications are available on the NTB website and Face-book pages or contact the Trust Board office.
 
Sponsorships: - It was decided that the sponsorship applications received in March and April 2018 will receive a sponsorship payment of $2000 each.
 
Treaty Claims: - The Treaty Claims Manager provide a brief overview of the mediation process to Trustees.
 
Marae Reports:
Matapouri: - A lot of tidying work has been carried out at the marae, the bathrooms have been painted and some landscaping has been done. We’ve had several meetings of late where we have discussed the state of our treaty claims, we also supported at the Whakapaumahara wananga where we also discussed the urgency hearing report. The AGM for the urupa at Pitokuku is being held this weekend at Matapouri followed by a hui of Te Akitai hapū. Aperahama is also one of the key note speakers at the TEDx Tutukaka event this weekend.

Motairehe: - We are focused on getting the walking tracks cut at the top of the marae for next summer’s dark skies. The marae is in a tidy state at the moment.

Ngunguru: - Is supporting the TEDx Tutukaka event this weekend and has a marae committee meeting on Sunday 8th April.

Oakura: - An audit of our books will be carried out shortly in preparation for the marae AGM. All marae bookings are closed until further notice.

Omaha: - The marae is still closed for bookings, maintenance wise new spouting has been installed.

Otetao: - It’s been quiet at the marae lately, organising things to complete maintenance upgrade to the marae bathrooms.

Punaruku: - The marae committee had a meeting after the hui-a-iwi, it was discussed that the marae ask the Board for a one off payment and that the marae dividend be increased. We are still looking at different areas for a building site. We are also preparing our accounts and books for auditing.

Tuparehuia: - The marae AGM is scheduled for 5th May and the marae bookings have been busy over the last few months.

Whananaki: - The marae is working alongside a local development group to fence off the awa and carry out some tree planting, also through the marae rebuild project we have discovered there has been a recent change in marae funding where TPK and Foundation North are going to be amalgamated. The marae is holding wānanga for the next 5 weeks.

• Database Proposal: - The Database proposal is still a conversation and work in progress.

• Working Policies: - Trustees discussed that they will continue to review the current draft working policies and NTB Charter. It was also agreed that the Sponsorship Policy will be reviewed by next month’s Trustee meeting.

• Ngātiwai Tourism: - Dave Bamford gave a brief update report on his research regarding Tourism for Ngātiwai. He had the opportunity to meet with some of the grass-roots Tourism Operators and Managers within Ngātiwai such as Wayne Johnstone from the Bland Bay Campground, Craig Walker from Oceans Resort, Tutukaka and Pamela Armstrong.

            Dave sees the Poor Knights as one of the Ngātiwai icons and encouraged that stories about it                 should be told through Ngātiwai eyes.
 
             Successful tourism includes elements of collaboration, courage and leadership. Dave’s final                   draft report on tourism for Ngātiwai will be completed by April 2018 which he will complete a                presentation back to the Trust Board.

• Refining NZ: - After much debate and deliberation the Board voted and it was decided that a mitigation offer from the Refining NZ would be accepted.

• Te Manawhakahono Amendment RMA: - The Board agreed to the CEO pursuing a relationship with local Councils under the Te Manawhakahono Amendment of the RMA.

Kia Ora whānau, on behalf of my fellow Trustees and the staff of Ngātiwai Trust Board I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

I know it has been as busy year for everyone, and it is as well at this time of year, we should all try and take a little bit of time out to spend with our whānau and friends.  So wherever you may be I hope that you are able to enjoy whanaungatanga with loved ones, but also manaaki those that are not so fortunate to have whānau around them at this time of year. 

2018 is going to be another very busy year, particularly as we work our way through the findings and recommendations of the Waitangi Tribunal into our Treaty Settlement mandate.  I firmly believe that Ngātiwai can come together as one to find a pathway forward to get the best outcome for our whānau, hapū and iwi.  We are going to take as much time as we need to hui with our people about what this report means for us, and listen to what our people say is the pathway forward for a Ngātiwai Settlement.  I look forward to bringing us all together early in the New Year to discuss a pathway forward.
I would like to acknowledge the kaumātua of our respective marae in our iwi.  Our kaumātua always have an important role in all our lives in guiding us, particularly around tikanga.  So I ask that you remember to take the time to acknowledge and spend time with your kaumātua. 

To my fellow Trustees and the work of the Trust Board’s staff.  I appreciate the time and effort that everyone puts in for our iwi and I personally thank you for your continued support and dedication.

I sincerely hope that you can all enjoy a break over the festive season and wherever you may go or wherever you may be over this holiday period please be safe and look after those around you. 

I would like to wish everyone a blessed festive season and look forward to seeing you all again in the New Year.
​
Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete ki a koutou katoa
Haydn