New Māori Trustee appointed

Jamie Tuuta will be appointed as the new Māori Trustee, the Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita Sharples announced today.

The appointment will be for a five year term starting on 19 August 2011.

“Jamie Tuuta is an outstanding example of a new generation of Māori leaders.  I am delighted to be able to appoint him as Māori Trustee”, says Dr Sharples.

“I am confident that Jamie Tuuta will ensure that the Māori Trustee plays a key role in the growing Māori economy.”

Jamie Tuuta has had significant governance roles in Māori organisations, including being Chair of Parininihi ki Waitotara since 2005.  He will be resigning from most of his current roles prior to taking up his appointment as Māori Trustee.

Dr Sharples thanked the current Māori Trustee, John Paki, for his contribution in the role over many years.  “John Paki has demonstrated a real commitment to advancing Māori interests during his years as Māori Trustee,” Dr Sharples says.  “I want to thank him for that service, and in particular for managing the transition of the Māori Trustee to become a stand alone organisation”.

Biographical details – Jamie Tuuta
Jamie Tuuta, of Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama, Te Ati Awa, and Taranaki Tūturu, has been a self employed consultant, advisor and company director, since 2004. 

He has held a range of governance roles, currently including Chair of Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi Asset Holding Company; Chair of Parininihi ki Waitotara; and Trustee of Te Reo o Taranaki Trust.
 

Māori Trustee:  Background Information 
 

What is the role of the Māori Trustee?

The role of the Māori Trustee is to protect and build the assets of Māori. 

Specific responsibilities include:

a.      investing and managing funds held in trust;
b.      looking after Māori land (and in some cases other assets) where the owners are not known; or where the owners or Māori Land Court have asked the Māori Trustee to take on this role;
c.      acting as an agent for Māori land owners, for example managing leases; and
d.      looking after certain reserves created in the nineteenth century.
 

History of the Maori Trustee

• The Māori Trustee has existed since the 1920s – the role was originally the called “Native Trustee”.
• The Māori Trustee is a corporation sole with perpetual succession established under the Māori Trustee Act 1953. 
• Since 1 July 2009 the Māori Trustee has been a stand alone entity, separate from Te Puni Kōkiri, included on Schedule 4 of the Public Finance Act 1989. 
• The Māori Trustee is now appointed by the Minister of Māori Affairs, for a period of up to five years.  Previously the role was conferred on an employee of Te Puni Kōkiri.
• The Māori Trustee now receives funding directly, rather than as part of Te Puni Kōkiri.   
• The Māori Trustee must produce an Annual Report and a Statement of Service Performance. 

The following is a snapshot of Māori Trustee business (Source: Māori Trustee Annual Report to 31 March 2010):