NGĀ IWI - TRIBES

About the Electoral College

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF TE KAWAI TAUMATA?

  • The sole function of Te Kawai Taumata is to appoint and remove the directors of Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee. However, Te Kawai Taumata can only remove those directors whom it has appointed.

WHAT IS TE KAWAI TAUMATA?

  • Te Kawai Taumata acts as the Maori Fisheries Electoral College consisting of at least 6 members and no more than 11 members.

  • Of the 11 members, 10 members are appointed by iwi across the country voting in their group1 to appoint one member each (and one alternate) and the remaining member (and alternate) is appointed by the Representative Maori Organisations Group (RMO Group)2.


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  • Schedule 3 and 5 of th e Maori Fisheries Act 2004 sets out who are the other Iwi or organisations in your group.

HOW DOES A GROUP APPOINT THEIR MEMBER?

  • Each group may determine a process that is suited to their circumstance which enables them as a collective, to appoint one member and one alternate member.

  • In the case of the inaugural appointment’s the first named Iwi or RMO in your group is responsible for coordinating the Group. We have written to the first named Iwi, or kaiwhakarite, in each group thereby initiating the formation process. They must give at least 10 days notice of the meeting to appoint a member (and an alternate) and the notice should include the date, time and venue of the meeting.

  • Members (and their alternates) may be appointed for a term no longer than 4 years. And may be removed from office (without compensation) if the majority of Mandated Iwi Organisations, Recognised Iwi Organisations, or RMOs who appointed them agree to their removal. There is a detailed process set out in Schedule 8 of the Act governing how a meeting of that nature is convened.

  • Once each group has appointed their member (and alternate) they will need to inform Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited. We will notify all Iwi of the appointments and Te Kawai Taumata can begin.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT?

  • All members and alternates on Te Kawai Taumata must be Maori but do not have to come from within the group in order to be appointed.

  • You should remember that members on Te Kawai Taumata (and their alternate) are not eligible to be directors on either, Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited, Aotearoa Fisheries Limited, Te Putea Whakatupu Trustee Limited or Te Wai Maori Trustee Limited.

DOES EACH GROUP HAVE TO APPOINT A REPRESENTATIVE?

  • Each of the 10 Iwi Groups and the RMO Group can appoint one member and one alternate member to Te Kawai Taumata. If a group chooses not to appoint, or can’t decide who to appoint, as a member or an alternate member Te Kawai Taumata can still function provided there are 6 members.

WHEN MUST TE KAWAI TAUMATA APPOINT THE DIRECTORS OF TE OHU?

  • Te Kawai Taumata must select and appoint 4 directors whose appointments need to take effect on 29 November 2006. In order to meet this requirement Te Kawai Taumata needs to have at least:  six members appointed before November,

    • held one meeting to appoint a chairperson and a deputy chairperson, and

    • the opportunity to discuss the appointment of directors, in sufficient time to ensure individuals can be appointed as directors by 29 November 2006.

  • All those incumbent directors whose terms expire in November 2006 are eligible for reappointment for one further term.

  • If Te Kawai Taumata cannot fill all the vacancies it must nominate which of the directors will not be replaced for the time being.

WHAT SHOULD TE KAWAI TAUMATA CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING THE DIRECTORS?

  • Te Kawai Taumata should consider the collective skills that the Board must have, being a mixture of commercial expertise, business skills and knowledge of tikanga Maori. In addition Te Kawai Taumata should also consider the future direction of Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited when identifying the skill sets that the directors should have. The role and focus of this organisation is changing – the future is not centred around the allocation and transfer of assets but rather on protecting the value of Maori fisheries, fisheries management and aquaculture.

HOW DOES TE KAWAI TAUMATA MEET?

  • The quorum for a meeting is 6 members or their alternates. A meeting must be chaired by either the Chair, the Deputy Chair or if neither is present the members who are present must elect a member who is present to chair the meeting.

  • Notice of the Te Kawai Taumata meeting must be provided to members at least 10 working days before any meeting held which sets out the date, time and agenda for the meeting.

  • Once we have been informed of who the members are we suggest that we organise the first meeting of Te Kawai Taumata.

WHERE TO NEXT?

  • We have prepared a presentation and are available to meet with you and/or the other Iwi in your group to discuss any aspect of Te Kawai Taumata.

TIMETABLE FOR TE KAWAI TAUMATA


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The diagram below shows an approximate timeframe for the formation of Te Kawai Taumata and its appointment of four directors. The appointments should be completed so as to take effect on the 29 November.

1 There are 10 groups being; Taitokerau, Ngapuhi, Tainui, Te Arawa Waka, Mataatua, Porourangi, Takitimu, Hauauru, Te Moana o Raukawa, and Waipounamu.

2 This Group consists of 7 organisations being; Federation of Maori Authorities, Manukau Urban Maori Authority, Maori Womans Welfare League, New Zealand Maori Council, Te Runanga o Nga Mata Waka Inc, Te Runanganui o te Upoko o Te Ika Association Incorporated and Te Whanau o Waipereira.