The history of Ngāi Tahu tribal investment
In 1998 Ngāi Tahu settled historical grievances with the Crown. In accordance with the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act, the Crown formally apologised, returned the tribal maunga Aoraki, and provided both cultural and economic redress to the iwi. The Crown transferred assets to Ngāi Tahu including land and cash. Additionally, a range of legislative tools including a Right of First Refusal, a Deferred Settlement Purchase arrangement, and a mechanism for future Relativity Payments, were enacted to help the tribe re-establish its economic base.
Ngāi Tahu Tourism unveils te reo Māori names for jet boat fleet
Ngāi Tahu Tourism has introduced te reo Māori names across its fleet of jet boats in Glenorchy and Tāhuna (Queenstown). The Shotover Jet boats have been named after rivers and lakes closest to Kimiākau (the Shotover River) that helped Ngāi Tahu tīpuna (ancestors) move around the area. The Dart River Adventures boats have been given traditional Ngāi Tahu names of the places of significance that surround manuhiri (visitors) on their journey through the Dart River Valley and the World Heritage Area of Mount Aspiring National Park.
Written in the stars
The stars have aligned for Dark Sky Project, a bold new astro-tourism venture in Takapō. It’s the longstanding vision of the founders of Dark Sky Project’s predecessor Earth & Sky, Graeme Murray and Hide Ozawa, whose passion is to preserve and showcase the region’s famously dark skies. This purpose has new fulfilment through a joint venture with Ngāi Tahu Tourism. Kaituhi Sampson Karst travelled to the alpine village for the opening of Dark Sky Project’s new lakeside venue.
Beyond the Cow Shed
Ash-Leigh Campbell (Ngāi Tahu – Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki) is an up-and-coming leader in the primary sector. At just 28, she already has a solid decade of experience, from milking dairy cows to sustainability management and sector-related technology and innovation training. The hands-on dairy farm work saw her named the first wahine finalist in the 2016 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Dairy Farmer Awards and recognition for her leadership qualities at the New Zealand Young Farmers Excellence Awards. TE KARAKA Kaituhi Arielle Monk reports
Nadine Tunley - Leading Change
Nadine Tunley (Ngāi Tahu – Ngāti Wheke, Ngāti Waewae) has a long career in the primary foods sector, largely in export and international markets. In May 2017 she became CEO of Watson & Son, the Ngāi Tahu-owned mānuka honey business, and is currently guiding them through a restructure and rebranding to Oha Honey. TE KARAKA author Anna Brankin sat down with Nadine to discuss the challenges she has overcome and the passion that drives her.
Te Kāika wins award for Māori business
Albie Laurence, Shelley Kapua, and Tahu Pōtiki receiving the award for Māori business on behalf of Te Kāika at the Otago Business Awards. Every year Ngāi Tahu Holdings sponsors the award and we are proud to acknowledge Te Kāika, the South Dunedin health hub who won the award this year. Te Kāika is a joint project created by Arai Te Uru Whare Hauora, the University of Otago, and Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for the community. For more on Te Kāika below is a TE KARAKA article written by Rob Tipa (Ngāi Tahu).
Creative approach to conservation
Jim Jacobs (Ngāi Tūāhuriri) checks on thousands of native plant seedlings hardening off at Ngāi Tahu Farming’s on-farm nursery at Te Whenua Hou, a large-scale conversion of the former Eyrewell Forest into 20 working farms. The company has set an ambitious target to plant 1.2 million trees by 2030. They hope that this planting project will help re-establish pockets of native forests on the Canterbury Plains, creating a corridor that will bring native manu (birds) back to the takiwā.
Enabling rūnanga economic outcomes
Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga (sub-tribes) are joining Te Haumi Whakamana, an investment tool that allows rūnanga to take a stake in Ngāi Tahu Property’s Crown Portfolio. This portfolio is made up of commercial buildings leased by Ngāi Tahu Property to Crown and local authority tenants on a long-term basis. The portfolio has generated an annual return of nine per cent, nearly double that of a term deposit at a bank. Through Te Haumi, Ngāi Tahu Property are providing direct benefits to rūnanga which helps them to achieve their own economic aspirations.
An ethical pathway of investment
Ngāi Tahu Holdings has partnered in the Responsible Investment Fund, started by Pathfinder Asset Management. The fund is designed to exclude investment into controversial industries and reward companies for good business practices. Pathfinder, a boutique fund manager based in Auckland, launched the fund in 2017 with Ngāi Tahu Holdings as the cornerstone investor. The investment sends a signal that Ngāi Tahu believes in wise and responsible investment that will support future generations.
Making the connection
Ngāi Tahu has always understood that the tribe’s history, heritage, and connection to the landscape gives the iwi a competitive advantage in the tourism industry. Ngāi Tahu Tourism is up-skilling their kaimahi (staff) so they are better equipped to share this unique story with manuihiri (guests). They have started to roll out a suite of programmes that focus on teaching kaimahi about the tribe's language, long history, and intimate connection with the land.
Ngāi Tahu Property's residential development has been named Te Pā Tāhuna
Whakatipu mana whenua officially gifted the name Te Pā Tāhuna to the Ngāi Tahu Property residential development in Queenstown. Pā, meaning fortified village, reflects the notion of a safe and permanent home, where the ahi kā (home fires) burn for past, current and future generations. Tāhuna recognises the original name for the area where Queenstown now stands.
Ngāi Tahu Tourism launches electric jet boat project
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) announced that Ngāi Tahu Tourism was one of four projects to receive funding from its Marine Electrification Fund.
Ngāi Tahu Property has opened Pākākano, the new PGG Wrightsons Seeds headquarters
The local Ngāi Tahu hapū (sub-tribe), Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki ki Taumutu gifted the name Pākākano to the building. The name pays homage to Ngā Pākihi Whakatekateka o Waitaha, the seedbed of Waitaha, otherwise known as the Canterbury Plains.
Ngāi Tahu responds to Queenstown housing needs
The KiwiBuild programme has helped Ngāi Tahu unlock a block of central Queenstown Crown land to ensure houses will be built targeting first-home buyers.
Ngāi Tahu Tourism CEO receives Business Scholarship
Minister for Economic Development, Hon David Parker awarding Ngāi Tahu Tourism Kaihautū (Chief Executive) Quinton Hall his 2018 Prime Minister’s Business Scholarships.