RE: Trust Board Response to Letter from Graham Williams

Kia ora Trust Board,

Thanks for finally responding to my letter that I sent 7 weeks ago . Obviously, the Trust Board doesn’t understand the simple meaning of being open, timely and transparent. In the response from the Trust Board, there are numerous errors and intentional misrepresentations. My comments below to some of your curt / misleading replies to the points in my letter:

  • Point 7 – Claiming you whakapapa to Ngati Aukiwa doesn’t mean you have been authorised to sign on behalf of Ngati Aukiwa.
  • Point 8 – Expecting that the Crown monitored and evidenced the process is ridiculous, as evidenced by the numerous objections during the process and to the Bill prior to it being passed, and the fact that the NZ First party abstained from the vote in protest.
  • Point 10 – I’m not sure each Trustee understands the extent of Clause 33.2 – Consultation on review process, each Trustee needs to seek independent legal advice, specifically on this matter. I look forward to Toko Kapea’s summary of the review process, including hui dates, minutes, and attendance registers.
  • Point 11 – All descendants of Kahukuraariki were not notified nor encouraged to register and vote, and as such were excluded from the consultation hui, not able to register, and denied subsequent voting in the Resolution 1 process. I personally was not made aware of the SGM & AGM until I was contacted about the privacy breach on Jan 2022 with the members register being published on your website. I had previously registered as a member but somehow wasn’t on the list anymore. I personally was excluded from the process by Geraldine Baker (GM), as I was denied access to the SGM & AGM which your Trust Deed clearly stated is open to all adult members of Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa (registered or not).
  • Point 14 – I’ve provided able evidence to warrant immediate recall of the special resolution made determining the ownership of the Stoney Creek Station, as per Point 10 – the correct process has not been followed and Point 11 – descendants of Kahukuraariki were excluded.

I’ve communicated my concerns and objections over the past 7 weeks and have provided ample time for each Trustee to respond to my concerns, questions, and requests. Not one Trustee has replied to my many emails, not one Trustee has provided me with their contact details. Refusal to provide their details is a breach of the Trust Act 2019, which could see them removed as Trustees. I ask once more that each Trustee provide me with their contact details.

Nga mihi

Graham Williams

Trust Board Response to Letter from Graham Williams

Tena koe Graham,

The Trust board had its first hui last night, following the recent SGM/AGM held 18th June 2022, at Waihapa Marae.

At that hui I was asked to respond to your letter as attached.

The Trust is waiting on a summary of the Review process, by Toko Kapea, the Independent Facilitator for both reviews. Once we have this we will forward a copy to yourself and Missy Petersen as requested.

Please visit our website www.kahukuraariki.iwi.nz for up-to-date news and events and information concerning the Trust and its operations.

Nga mihi

Geraldine Baker

Kaiwhakahaere Matua

Kahukuraariki Trust Board

Complaint : Denied access to the SGM & AGM on the 18th June 2022 by Geraldine Baker (GM) Kahukuraariki Trust Board

Dear Trust Board,

On Saturday 18th June 2022 I was denied access to the SGM & AGM by Geraldine Baker (GM). According to Clause 33.1 and 33.2 of your Trust Deed, as an Adult Member of Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa (registered or not) I was entitled to attend the recent SGM on the 18 June 2022, and that Geraldine Baker had no legal right to cancel my invitation and deny me access. I informed Geraldine Baker (GM) via email that I did not need to be a registered member to attend the hui, however at 9:03am on the 18th June 2022 I received an email from Zoom stating, “Your registration for webinar Kahukuraariki Trust Board SGM and AGM has been cancelled”.

In denying me access she has denied me the opportunity to present my letter and plead my case in relation to the ownership of Stoney Creek Station, which would have made a material difference to the outcome of any decisions made or accepted at the SGM.

As such I demand that any decisions made or accepted at the SGM be voided immediately, and that another SGM be scheduled where all Adult Members of Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa (registered or not) are allowed to attend and participate.

I give each Trust Board member this one opportunity to correct this serious breach of their Trust Deed before I take legal action against each individual Trust Board member under the Trust Act 2019.

Nga mihi

Graham Williams

KAHUKURAARIKI Trust Board 2016-2022

At the First reading of the Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa Claims Settlement Bill in April 2016, objections were heard which were referred to the Māori Affairs Committee. Numerous objections were formally lodged and discussed in Wellington in April 2017. These objections were ignored by Chris Finlayson on the second and third readings. The NZ First party abstained from voting in protest, however the National Party forced the bill through, and the Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa Claims Settlement Bill was passed into law in August 2017.

Since then, the KAHUKURAARIKI Trust Board did little during 2018-2019. In 2019, the KAHUKURAARIKI Trust Board held hui which were not advertised widely, and were not well attended. The minutes of these hui talk mostly about the Resolution 2: Amendments to Trust Deed changes, and no published record of any discussion on Resolution 1: Ownership of Stoney Creek Station. There is no published record of any SGM to discuss the process in relation to resolving Resolution 1: Ownership of Stoney Creek Station as per Clause 33 of the KAHUKURAARIKI Trust Deed.

In 2021, the KAHUKURAARIKI Trust Board held numerous roadshows to discuss the Resolution 2: Trust Deed changes, and Resolution 1: Ownership of Stoney Creek Station. However, again published minutes show that Resolution 2: Amendments to Trust Deed was discuss, but not Resolution 1: Ownership of Stoney Creek Station.

Delays due to COVID meant that voting on the KAHUKURAARIKI Trustee elections and both Resolutions could not be held until March 2022. The SGM and AGM scheduled for March 2022 to provide an open forum to discuss the resolutions prior to voting were cancelled and rescheduled to June 2022, however voting was not rescheduled.

The results of the KAHUKURAARIKI Trustee elections and both Resolutions were published. The Taemaro Trustee was voted in with only 26 votes, and the Waimahana Trustee was voted in with 111 votes. Voting on Resolution 2: Amendments to Trust Deed was not passed, however voting on Resolution 1: Ownership of Stoney Creek Station was passed, despite objections that people were not able to discuss it in an open and transparent forum prior to voting.

Kahukuraariki Trust Board management close their Facebook account

The Kahukuraariki Trust Board management have closed their Facebook account cutting a vital channel for open and transparent communicate with their members and beneficiaries.

When I emailed the Trust Board asking them why they had closed it, I was told that all information for Kahukuraariki is now on their website, please see link https://www.kahukuraariki.iwi.nz/

When I pressed as to why it was closed, I was told that it was a management decision until they have had time to formulate a wider communication strategy.

I’m not really sure what that means, but hey it’s the Trust Board.

Unfortunately, the Kahukuraariki website hasn’t been updated yet with the recent SGM&AGM hui minutes, nor has a link of the zoom meeting recording been posted on their site to date.

Kahukuraariki Trust Board – Trustee Election Results 2022

March 8th, 2022

Morena koutou,

please see below the results for the Trustee Election 2022.

Congratulations to Otangaroa – Ana Hotere, Te Komanga – Roger Kingi, Taemaro – Hone (JJ) Ripikoi, Waimahana – Jean Joseph.

No election was require for Waihapa – Teresa Tepania-Ashton, Mangatowai – April Hetaraka, Waitaruke – Norman McKenzie and Taupo – Waitangi Wood.

Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa Ratification Hui June-August 2015

OIA Response 13 March 2018 to an OIA Request 18 February 2018.

Details the four Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa Ratification Hui between June 2015 and August 2015. Each hui had extremely low participation:

  • 27 June 2015 – only 15 people attended
  • 2 July 2015 – only 34 people attended
  • 18 July 2015 – only 48 people attended
  • 1 August 2015 – only 24 people attended