Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust has a range of roles and responsibilities which are set out in the Trust Deed (available to download here). At a governance level these duties include:

• Receiving, holding (on trust) and exercising stewardship over trust assets for the benefit of iwi members of Ngāti Rangitihi; 

• Performing the functions of the governance entity under the CNI settlement; and

• Performing its obligations as a shareholder of CNI Iwi Holdings Limited and as a beneficiary of the CNI Iwi Holdings Trust.

So who exactly are our Trustees? The Trust held its inaugural election in accordance with our Trust Deed in September 2009. The election was carried out by postal and internet voting using the First Past the Post (FPP) voting method. There were 21 candidates for the seven positions on the trust. Meet our current trustees below and read about their interesting and varied backgrounds. 

Want to know when the next elections are coming up? Check out our information section below about the Trust's election cycle from now until 2022. 

The diagram above illustrates the Trust's election cycle starting from our first election in 2009 right up until 2022.

Our seven inaugural Trustees have been elected for a maximum term of five years. 

The Trust Deed stipulates that the effective governance of the trust will be best achieved by the rotation of approximately half the Trustees every three years. 

Accordingly the second election will be held in 2012 at which three of the seven Trustees will retire by rotation and three new Trustees will be elected. The three Trustees who are retiring will be eligible to stand for re-election to serve for a second term at this time if they desire. 

The third election will be held two years later in 2014 when the remaining four first Trustees will retire by rotation. If any of the first three Trustees have been re-elected for a second term, they would also be required to retire as they would have reached their maximum five year term for an inaugural trustee. 

The cycle of retirement rotation and elections will continue with further elections being held in  2017, 2019 and 2022. 

The maximum term for any Trustee is 10 consecutive years.

If you would like further information on the election cycle or how to participate in the next elections as either a voter or candidate, click here to contact us.

Cathy Dewes is a long-time advocate of the Māori language and has been actively involved in various Māori language revitalisation initiatives for more than three decades. Cathy was the first woman to serve on Te Arawa Māori Trust Board and was involved with advocating a fair settlement for Ngāti Rangitihi.

Martin Marr has some 25 years experience in the electricity industry and has demonstrated teamwork skills and an understanding of corporate structure. A father of four, Martin descends from a Matata family of nine. His interests include bio-dynamics, permaculture, eco-housing and cheaper energy alternatives.

Tiipene Marr is a long-time environmental advocate and is the Māori councillor for the Kohi constituency with Environment Bay of Plenty. A father of nine, Tiipene is a Tūhourangi trustee on the Te Arawa Lakes Trust and a trustee for Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust in Kawerau. Tiipene is the current deputy chairperson of the Trust.

Graham Pryor is an accountant and financial and management consultant, and was the managing director of Mai Media Limited for 14 years. Graham was one of three negotiators appointed by the Collective that successfully concluded the CNI settlement and was employed by CNI Iwi Holdings Limited as the interim general manager. Graham is the current chairperson of the Trust.

Merepeka Raukawa-Tait is a professional administrator with an interest in central and local body politics as well as Māori economic and social development. A radio host, Merepeka has been involved in safer communities and women’s and family health services. She is a former chief executive of Women’s Refuge.

Kenneth Raureti is a self-employed mediator and business management consultant. His career in human resources and employment relations includes an appointment as a member of the Employment Relations Authority and as chief mediator for the Department of Labour. Kenneth is chairman of the Ruawahia 2B Trust.

Harina Warbrick is a company director with a background in the private business sector. Harina is the head of two companies – one which contracts to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa providing programme management and co-ordination in programme development and the other which deals with foreign and overseas trade.