Kahukuraariki Trust Annual Report 2023 – Brief Review

From: graham.williams@wairuakiwi.com <graham.williams@wairuakiwi.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 27 September 2023 3:46 pm
To: ‘Teresa Tepania-Ashton’ <teresa.tepania-ashton@kahukuraariki.iwi.nz>
Cc: ‘April Hetaraka’ <ahetaraka@gmail.com>; ‘Hinepotaurangi Jean Joseph’ <jjhinepotaurangi@gmail.com>; ‘Roger Kingi’ <rateakingi@xtra.co.nz>; ‘Norm Mckenzie’ <norm.mckenzie@kahukuraariki.iwi.nz>; ‘Ana Hotere’ <anahotere@gmail.com>; ‘Waitangi Wood’ <tauihoitepotrust@gmail.com>; ‘Roger Kingi’ <roger.kingi@kahukuraariki.iwi.nz>; ‘Hone JJ Ripikoi’ <jj@farnorth.me>

Subject: Re: Kahukuraariki Trust Annual Report 2023 – Brief Review

Kia ora Teresa,

I’ve just finished reviewing your yet to be approved Kahukuraariki Trust Annual Report 2023 and Financial Statements, and the Trustees may wish to have your accountant review it, as there are mistakes in your GMs analysis which misrepresents the Milford Investment portfolio performance in 2023, compared to the details recorded in your published Financial Statements.

The Milford Investment portfolio performance in 2023 resulted in a net loss of $100k not $570k, according to your Financial Statements. The Milford Investment portfolio balance dropped from $6.6m in 2022 to $5.8m in 2023 due primarily to withdrawals to cover your administration and operational expenses. Your investment strategies over the past 3 years have failed to provide enough revenue to cover your increasing expenses hence your losses. It’s reasonable to accept losses for a year or so, but 3 years straight without even attempting to rein in your increasing costs nor adequately adjusting your investment strategy is concerning to say the least.

The Trust’s primary responsibility is to manage the settlement assets for its present and future beneficiaries; however, I’m concerned over the serious losses incurred over the past 3 years; 2021 – $380,000, 2022 – $630,000, and now in 2023 – $570,000. The exceptional Milford Investment portfolio gains in 2020 of $1.5 million are likely to be fully extinguished by 2024 at this rate. The Milford Investment portfolio 3 years ago was $6.9 million, however its diminished to $5.8 million in 2023. A major reason for these losses based on reviewing your accounts over the past 3 years, would be the massive increase in Administration and Operational costs relating to Staff Salaries and Trustee Fee Payments, which on average account for about 40-45% of the losses for each respective year. The Administration and Operational costs in 2020 were – $114k ($53k and $61k), in 2021 – $176k ($91k and $85k), in 2022 – $266k ($225k and $41k), and in 2023 – $287k ($227k and $60k). What does the Trust intend to do about reversing this trend of excessive losses?

Also, while reviewing the latest Financial Statements for 2023, I noted that the Trust received $376k worth of NIWA/VMC grants from the Crown and paid out $448k to NIWA for NROP. I note that the Trust doesn’t appear to record any equity interest in the NROP / Seafood International Ltd (SIL) entity. Why doesn’t the Trust own part of the NROP / Seafood International Ltd (SIL) entity considering they’ve contributed significant Trust funds?

I’ll leave others to comment on the inaccurate 2022 SGM & AGM Minutes, and the lack of an independent attendance register for the 2022 SGM, as I was denied participation in both as a non-registered member. Could you please ensure that this email is tabled at your 2023 AGM this coming Saturday as a matter of record?

Nga mihi,

Graham Williams

Member of Ngati Kahu ki Whangaroa

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