Te Korowai Board met on Friday 1 July 2022 and can share the following highlights:  

1. Te Korowai has seen an increase in kaimahi over the past 6 months.   This time last year we had five kaimahi working in the tari.   By March 2022 there were 12 kaimahi and today we have 18 kaimahi working to deliver on the five year strategy and the Annual Plan for 2022.   We have two new teams and a Whare Kōrero. Te Rōpū Hāpai – Finance Team and Te Rōpū Pāpāho – Communications Team and Te Whare Kōrero o Ngāruahine.   Please welcome Emma Park, John Tapiata, Neta Riley, Janine Maruera, Jackson Cassidy, Moesha Katene Rawiri who are brand new to our team, starting in May and June of this year as well as Phillip and Puhi Nuku, who are no strangers to our landscape.   Congratulations also to Ritihia Waller and Rowan Reihana who have moved from their previous positions into new roles within Te Rōpū Hāpai and to Rhonda Vanstone who joined the team as EA to the Tumu Whakarae. Rhonda will also support the governance function of Te Korowai. 
   
   
2. We continue to work towards growing our register.   This enables us to understand where our uri can be located, supporting our efforts to reach out to all our people, no matter where they are in the world.   We encourage you all to contact the tari or reach out on our communication platforms if you are needing tautoko to register.
   
   
3. WITT deliver a Level 4, Māori Governance course which is pitched at directors and emerging directors.   We are encouraging all whānau who sit on our hapū and marae committees, or our rangatahi coming through, to enrol in this course for 2023.   This course will support our grassroots directors / trustees strenghthening the skillset you already have.   On 7 July 2022, Te Korowai o Ngāruahine Trust, signed a Memorandum of Understanding   with WITT.   This strong relationship will support the Te Ara Toiroa Strategy, Kura to Career Pipeline and encourage more courses to be delivered to our takiwā, such as the successful NZ Certificate in Manaaki Marae – Te Nihowera, Te Ringawera (Kaupae 3).
   
   
4. 2022 saw the inclusion of a public holiday which celebrates Te Tau Hou Māori.   Ngāruahine have for the past 9 years been publically celebrating Puanga and Matariki via wānanga, ceremonies, toi exhibitions and kai hākari.   This year saw Te Korowai actively supporting events that were celebrated in the community, delivering online education videos, a series of whakatauki pertaining to Puanga and Matariki, and an online talent quest.   We made the unfortunate decision, for the safety of our kaumatua, to postpone Te Pō Whakanui i a Puanga which was due to take place on Saturday 30 July.   We look forward to celebrating together on 3 December 2022 instead. 
   
   
5. We can also celebrate a positive audit report for the 2021 year and feedback from the auditor:
   
   • Investment performance has been very positive.   We have seen considerable growth. Our managed funds particularly have done extremely well in the last 12 months.  
   • There was a word of caution for us all – the next 12 months will not look so rosy, and we may see decreases. Shares have already started showing decreases in the last few months. We should not be surprised.
   • However, our investments have been well managed.   The diversifying of our investments has worked in our favour – a credit to the portfolio of investments that we have.
     
     
6. The growth continues in our local Impact Investment space also.   While we have seen the diversification of our investments contribute to the wellbeing of the nation, we are bringing it back into our takiwā also.   We invited uri to a series of hui / wānanga during the month of July for “Kāinga Whakaahurangi” and “Project Tūkau”. These projects are about scoping out what our Kāinga / Housing aspirations are as uri, in Whakaahurangi and the returning of Te Korowai Kaupapa / operations into Ngāruahine boundaries.   Keep an eye out on our social media platforms for further wānanga and hui dates on these kaupapa.
   
   
7. Hinerangi Raumati has resigned as the Chairperson of Te Kīwai Mauī. Hinerangi has shared her time, experience and mātauranga with us for 6 years and it is now time for her to explore other ventures.   We wish Hinerangi and her whānau, all the best for the future.   We advertised for a Director and received a great response – an announcement will be made shortly.  

Mauri ora

Paula Carr
Pouwhakarae