ISSUE FIFTY-EIGHT: RIMA TEKAU MĀ WARU JUNE 2020
A First Encounter John Steven’s first encounters have been a topic for reflection and debate during the past year. This brings to mind my first encounter with your tı̄puna and their whānau in 1970.
IN THIS ISSUE: p2 p5 p8 p9
COVID-19 Support Wai 85 Update AGM Update Wairarapa Moana Merchandise p10 Kohunui Marae p11 Wairarapa Moana Trust Review Update p11 Vacancy: Senior Communications Role p11 Shareholder/ Beneficiary Search p12 Golden Shears 2020 p13 Tapekaoterangi Hakopa, Future Leaders Recipient p14 Farm Update p15 Wairarapa Moana: The Lake and Its People p15 Notification of a Deceased Shareholder p15 Find out more ... p16 50 Unclaimed Dividends p16 Shareholder Bank Accounts p16 Mailer Closing Dates
I was sitting on the stage of the Masterton Town Hall being introduced to the owners of Pouākani 2 block and the shareholders of The Proprietors of Mangakino Township. The purpose of the meeting, convened by a Recording Officer appointed by the Māori Land Court, was to find out if the owners supported the proposed plantation forest blocks at Mangakino being transferred to the Incorporation and then leased to New Zealand Forest Products Limited. The scheme was overwhelmingly supported by the owners with the only strong objection being led by Otorohanga lawyer, Findlay Phillips, who represented a small estate interest. The town hall was filled with about 300 owners and their whānau and the meeting was followed by a lunch provided by New Zealand Forest Products. So how did I come to be there and have my first experience of working with Wairarapa Māori, which has continued for 50 years? In 1970 my law firm, in which I was the new junior partner, took over the firm of O&R Beere & Riddiford, in which Dan Riddiford and his cousin Earle Riddiford were the remaining partners. Rawdon Beere had died a couple of years earlier and another partner had just left the firm. Dan had been elected Member of Parliament for Wellington Central in 1960 and became Minister of Justice in the Holyoake government in 1969, so he no longer had time for his legal practice, while his cousin had bought back Orongorongo Station, which had been out of family ownership for about 7 years.
John Stevens
To assist in the transfer of files, I started visiting Dan at Parliament early in the morning on my way to the office. One morning he asked me to go with him on Saturday to a meeting of Māori in Wairarapa. The ministerial car would pick me up from home at 8am. The black limousine, with uniformed driver, (with inquisitive neighbours at their curtains), picked me up and took me to the Riddiford home at Lowry Bay where I was welcomed by Mrs Riddiford and taken into Dan’s study where he was reading up about industrial relations. He was unfortunately faced with a freezing works strike while Acting Minister of Labour.
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June 2020