Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust and Te Puna Ora o Mataatua sign Relationship Accord

More than 80 people gathered at Rangitihi Marae on 27 September for the re-scheduled signing of a Relationship Accord between Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust (The Trust) and Te Puna Ora o Mataatua (TPOOM).

TPOOM are a non-profit charitable organisation based in Whakatāne that covers the whole of Mataatua/Eastern Bay of Plenty region and beyond, providing health, medical, social and employment services across the Bay of Plenty for its members.

Before the 27 September signing officially took place, the group acknowledged the passing of former Deputy Chair of TPOOM, Brian Simpson who sadly passed away on 19 July in the Wharenui, partway through the first attempt at the signing.

This Accord sets out the agreement in principle for The Trust and TPOOM to collaborate in developing and undertaking activities that will mutually benefit both institutions, to advance in particular the mutual health, medical, social, educational, training, and employment goals of the communities they serve.

Trust Chair Leith Comer says this is a really positive step in The Trust’s goals to empower Ngāti Rangitihi to flourish in perpetuity through our inherent self-determination.

“We look forward to collaborating with TPOOM to developing, enhance and promote positive benefits for each of our institutions and our respective communities, including exploring the joint development of programmes, services, and initiatives that will enable our people to thrive.”

Caption: Trust Chair, Leith Comer and former Deputy Chair of TPOOM, Brian Simpson, who sadly passed away on 19 July in the Wharenui, partway through the first attempt at the signing.