NGĀTI KAHUNGUNU IWI INCORPORATED - BOARD SUMMARY - 26 September 2025

 

Tēnā koutou katoa e te iwi,

This is a summary of notes taken at the Board meeting that was held on Friday 26 September 2025, at the Copthorne Motel, Masterton. 

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Chairman's Summary – Bayden Barber

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The Board met on Thursday 25 September for a Strategic Planning Wānanga before their bi-monthly hui which took place on Friday 26 September.  The Chairman Bayden Barber opened by acknowledging the recent loss of Tumu Te Heuheu and acknowledged that a bus of Kahungunu whānau will be traveling to Waihi Marae on Saturday morning.

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Bayden acknowledged the wānanga as an opportunity have an open discussion about some whakaaro from information gathered during the 25-year vision Strategic Vision hui held around the motu.

 

Taash Romana facilitated the hui to help the Board work through the aspirations noted by our people. Bayden shared that he was inspired by the kōrero we heard from kaumātua, pakeke, rangatahi, tāne and wāhine who shared openly about what matters most to them and how we can weave these priorities into our 25-year, 50-year and even 100-year plans. “Ko tātau hurihia aua whakaaro - it’s for us to take those ideas and shape them within the framework of mana motuhake (self-determination), rangatiratanga (leadership and authority), and Kahungunutanga (our Kahungunu identity and ways)”.

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Bayden spoke about the recent Kahungunu Health Authority Wānanga taking place on 22 October to initiate discussions around Te Toka Tu Moana, a Kahungunu Health Authority.

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Click here to view the strategic vision information

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Reports from the Board

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Bayden Barber - Gave a short report on Te Aratini trip to Osaka in Japan Te Aratini ki Osaka was a fantastic experience. Ngāti Kahungunu was well represented in Osaka along with ngā iwi o te motu. It was invaluable to network with other iwi taketake on business, trade and culture.

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Te Toka Tū Moana o Ngāti Kahungunu (Kahungunu Health Authority) Kua takoto te mānuka! We will be holding our inaugural Kahungunu Health Symposium at Toitoi
Hastings on 22nd October to share the vision with our whānau, providers and stakeholders. Ka ara mai tētahi āhua!

 

Board member reports

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Heretaunga Taiwehnua – Crystal Edwards

• Specialist Centre launched in August 

• TTOH 40 year Birthday.- pohiri last week and Po Ngahau this Saturday

• Going through a redesign of the premises at TTOH – architects coming in.

• Waingakau in a good financial state.

• PHO Relocated – Eastborne Street, opposite WINZ

• Open Marae Days at Waimarama, Omahu, Mangaroa and one other. 

• Sndra Hazelhuyrst poroporoaki – 2 Oct at Toitoi

• Karakia sessions to build presence at the tari

Wairoa - Esta Wainohu

• Held AGM, two weeks ago in Wairoa and how have a new Chair Maria Cairnes and DC is Adreian Manual –big take….late applications. (Get an update for the website)

• Nigel How and Henare Mita has retired.

• Opening of ?? Housing.

• Ross Shield this week…..

• New Health Committee in Te Wairoa?

TNAR – Hayden Hape

• Hauora going very well. At full capacity with registered whanau – 1600. Need more space. Another Dr wants to join them. Looking for more space. Another Dr from Teteko is doing Law Placement coming to TNAR. Doing a fantastic job.

• Invited to an indigenous medicine conference in China. Naiday Glavish and Awhitia Mihaere are heading over…..8-13 Oct.

• Just got back from China – mahi comes off the back of COVID then Cyclone and critical housing….. have noticed the need of whanau. After Gabrielle when whanau lost their homes in other areas in Kahungunu. Whanau are getting into new homes and need furniture. Had convo with Big Save furniture. Have contacts overseas to get furniture and linen for whanau from China. Not to give discount but be affordable. Others can access as well. For our own whanau it will be heavily discounted.

Wairarapa – Melissa Ihaka

• Lots of older generation passing on….lots of time at tangi

• BAU for Taiwhenua

• Hosted Kura Reo at Hurunui o Rangi 12o people….from beginners to advanced.

• AGM 18 Oct at Hurunui marae

 Kirikiriroa – Te Aihurangi Tangiora

• Run wananga tikanga, waiata, history,

• Board wants a kura reo can be brought to kirikiriroa.

• Want to get some rangatahi into employment, happy to assist but need help with getting their licences.

• Would like a dividend at some stage. Our needs are simpler but still need support

• Tabled an investment doc….follow up with Michelle….

Taurahere – Southrern Brian

• Still miss Tony Huata, her loss has been deeply felt.

• Hui coming up this Monday. Trying to kick up again

• We run an investment group for wahine established by Ebony Waitere and (their finance girl)

• Moana Jackson Memorial wananga coming up…..group of ex students

• Suggests inviting John Whaanga and Tamaki Olsen to the Health kaupapa

Kaumatua – Orine Gillies

• Hit with flu illness and tangihanga

• Took contingent to Koroneihana but was cold, they thoroughly enjoyed,,,,dis us very proud.

• Kura Reo going well throughout the rohe

• No staff at NKII coming…..would be good for professional development

• Shocked with 2050 plan not to see te reo up the top – need to keep our kaumatua going….quality of life to help them help their mokos to grow in this evolving world.

• Held Whitiki Waimarama – head judge – Timoti didn’t judge gently.

• Suggests the Board needs a retreat, whanaungatanga, how to watch eachothers back and support one another

KAHC – Report Mike Devonshire

• See report….

• On target for the current year.

• Ice cream shop leasing Takitimu seafoods opening up before Christmas….

• Looking to reestablish the pataka

• (Crystal) – ice cream parlour….. one confectionery business…..they are tenants, two separate tenants.

• Ra is working with Ngai Tahu etc to bring back to the tari to consider, back at next hui. Fundamentally we need to get some broad agreement from the shareholder for consideration.

• Around branding Takitimu seafoods building….hayden, when they did the media release, they had Takitimu half painted on …. As an iwi, that’s us. They need to completely take our branding off.

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