PURPOSE
To provide hapu with an update summarised report of matters arising from the full board meeting of Te Whakatohea Maori Trust Board, held on Saturday, 15 October 2011.
Elections
The election process is now in motion and the best of wishes was extended to all those that were putting themselves forward for election. Voting forms were posted from Friday, 14 October 2011 for Ngai Tama, Ngati Ngahere, Upokorehe and Ngati Ira.
Physical elections for Ngati Rua and Ngati Patu were not required with two candidates from each of these hapu successfully nominated and elected unopposed.
Chief Mokomoko
A special ceremony was held in recognition of a pardon 145 years after Chief Mokomoko was wrongfully executed. This was held at Waiaua Marae on Wednesday, 28 September 2011. The Minister of Maori Affairs, Pita Sharples co-signed an agreement on behalf of the Crown to introduce legislation to give Statutory Recognition to the 1992 pardon.
Te Waka Toi Awards
A strong contingent of Whakatohea and Ngai Tai travelled to Wellington to support Te Riaki Amoamo and Emma Rogers nee Delamere at the Te Waka Toi Awards. The Sir Kingi Ihaka Award from Creative New Zealand recognises the contribution to strengthening the continuity of Maori culture through the support of Maori arts.
Te Riaki and Emma were two of five kaumātua who won an award in the Ngā Tohu a Tā Kīngi Ihaka/Sir Kingi Ihaka Award category.
China Delegation – August 2011
Chairman Robert Edwards and Aquaculture Manager Ian Craig travelled to China with a delegation from Council. Again this was a valuable opportunity to further develop Whakatohea relationships with Oriental Ocean Ltd, alongside the Opotiki District Council whom continues to be an advocate and supporter of the aquaculture venture.
It was encouraging to look at the potential market for retail products and the visit included discussions about business opportunities around the possible export of products directly to Chinese markets. Aquaculture is at the top of the Chinese investment list with demand for aquaculture products at 28 million tonnes in 2009.
China’s economic boom continues to push the demand for aquaculture and strong relationships are needed to open doors into retail export markets.
Farming Overview
The dairy farm continues to do very well. We have had a promising start for the 2011/12 season with milk production on target to achieve 340,000 kgs milk solids. Fonterra’s forecast payout of $7.60 per kg MS.
Recent Successful Events
The success of the Muriwai Tournament and Delamere Cup was applauded and acknowledged as huge events for whanau. The Board is proud to be a supporter to both of these events.
Aquaculture
The mussels are continuing to grow well and we expect to catch further spat in December / January 2012. Monitoring of the mussel farm continues on a two weekly basis to check on the floatation, wear and tear on the ropes and stropes, monitoring of growth rates at various depths, mussel condition, spat catch and water quality sampling
We are currently drafting a business plan for the commercialisation of the mussel project with modelling based on building a processing factory alongside a wharf in the Opotiki harbour. It is important to be involved in the processing and marketing of the product if the project is to be successful.
Whakatohea is also involved with a joint venture with Wakatu and Oriental Ocean to capture sea cucumber from around New Zealand for processing for a marketing trial.
Dickie Farrar
GENERAL MANAGER
