WMI and WMT AGM Highlights 2022

Highlights from AGMs 2022

It was an early start for shareholders and wha¯nau when at 7:30am the transport left Mangakino School to visit the farms.

Owners and whànau were taken to view cows being milked at the Dairy Shed on Farm 3, followed by a briefing from the Farm 3 team on the performance of the dairy farming operations for the 2021/22 year that included an in-depth overview and display of the use of cow collars and their function in providing real-time reproduction and health monitoring.

While making their way up to the Ford Road Dairy Stock Unit, the transport took the opportunity to stop at the entrance way to Pouàkani, the world’s largest totara tree, situated on Wairarapa Moana Incorporation land.

As has become part of our custom on these visits, owners and whànau were also given the opportunity to plant native trees, shrubs, and flaxes at Ford Road in memory of our whànau who have passed, before returning to Mangakino School for lunch.

The Wairarapa Moana Incorporation meeting

commenced after lunch with a welcome from Deputy Chair, TeHoripo Karaitiana.

Three nominations were received by the due closing date for two positions on the Committee of Management. Candidates Murray Hemi, Sonya Rimene and Kingi Smiler addressed the meeting prior to the voting process commencing.

Business was conducted as per the agenda and the Business Update was followed by Bruce Hunter’s presentation of the Incorporation’s accounts. Meeting book was presented and passed. The dividend will be distributed in early December.

Anne Carter presented an update on Wai 85 and provided a chronological history up to the present. In response to the Crown introducing legislation earlier this year to extinguish Wai 85, Wairarapa Moana has recently lodged a legal proceeding against the Crown under the Bill of Rights Act.

The Auditor and Share Valuer were re-appointed for another year; the minutes of the 2021 general meeting were approved; and the 2023 AGM will be held on October 14th at Greytown.

The Deputy Chair then announced the successful candidates for election to the Committee of Management, Sonya Rimene and Kingi Smiler.

The meeting concluded and the Wairarapa Moana Trust AGM commenced.

The Wairarapa Moana Trust Chairman, Anaru Smiler,

welcomed everyone to the meeting; he acknowledged the work of the trustees undertaken throughout the year; and recognised the multitude of past trustees and whànau who have supported the initiatives and programmes of the Trust since its inception.

The Financial Position and the Investment programmes for the year ended 31 May 2022 were summarised.

Jonathan Warwick introduced the education portfolio with a phrase that supports the philosophy that

and encouraged whànau to apply for funding to support their journey in education. He introduced past scholarship recipient Traceyanne Herewini who shared her whakapapa, aspirations, goals and experiences, study pathways, culminating with her achievements. Traceyanne provided an inspirational presentation and encouraged whànau to embrace the viewpoint that

‘Good education affords good life options’

Deborah Davidson provided an overview on funding to marae during closedowns touching on Covid restrictions and marae renovations. Following this she acknowledged the Wairarapa Moanatanga initiative whakakaha paepae which is now seeing input from kura kaupapa graduates and the waiata projects that were supported by Te Rangiura o Wairarapa Kapa Haka and continue to be viewed consistently on YouTube.

Sonya Rimene led the presentation focusing on the modernisation and growth within the social, cultural and well-being areas which was well received; and the special resolution to dissolve Wairarapa Moana Trust was passed.

Tiraumaera Te Tau acknowledged Dallas Gillies for her dedication to the Trust and their programmes during her time as secretary and wished her well in her change of career.

Anaru Smiler thanked everyone for their attendance and participation and the meeting concluded with karakia from Mihaere Kirby.

The WMI and the WMT draft AGM Minutes will be distributed with the 2023 March Mailer.