$1 million handshake revealed in Ngai Tahu books
The former head of Ngai Tahu's commercial arm banked more than $1 million dollars over the last year. Robin Pratt quit Ngai Tahu Group Corporation in May after a review recommended major structural changes.
Ngai Tahu's report for the year ending June 30 shows the corporation made a pre-tax profit of only $9 million compared with $31 million the previous year, resulting in an overall loss for the South Island tribe of almost $11 million.
It showed 43 staff earned more than $100 thousand dollars, with the top earner making between $1.1 and $1.2 million, including redundancy and compensation payments.
Ngai Tahu Runanga chairperson Mark Solomon says he was unhappy with the payment to Dr Pratt, but couldn't stop it.
“There was a payment made by the Holdings Corporation. I’m not in favour of the golden handshakes, but it was done by a board that had the delegated authority to do so. We now have to carry it,” Solomon says.
Mark Solomon says the overall result reflected difficult trading conditions and asset write-offs in the tribe's fishing operations, but he expects a significant improvement during the current year
JUDICIAL CONFERRENCE LAST HOPE FOR SOME CLAIMANTS
Treaty lawyer Annette Sykes says claimants hope today's Waitangi Tribunal judicial conference in Wellington will result in an inquiry into the settlement process.
Tribunal Judge Carrie Wainwright has asked a wide range of claimants to say why such an inquiry is justified and how it could proceed.
Ms Sykes represents some Te Arawa iwi who are standing outside a supposed iwi-wide settlement reached between the Crown and umbrella group Nga Kaihautu o Te Arawa.
She says Maori have turned to the tribunal because they can't get the courts to listen to their concerns.
“There is a grave reluctance by the judiciary to enter into what they call political discussions around constitutional matters, So all of the various groups that are waiting patiently and watching many of their assets, their taonga being given away to other people, have concerns about the way the policy is dealing with them,” Sykes says.
ANTI SMACKING BILL NEEDS TOUGHENING UP
Anti violence campaigner Mereana Pitman says the anti-smacking bill doesn't address the core of the problem.
Pitman, a member of a group working on the Kahungunu Family Violence Prevention strategy, says there is no quick fix because domestic violence is often intergenerational in whanau.
She says the select committee watered down Green MP Sue Bradford's original bill and left it ambiguous and open to interpretation.
Ms Pitman says a total ban on smacking may seem extreme, but everyone would know where they stand.
“We often think of violence in degrees. That’s pretty much the norm in Maoridom, that hitting and slapping is to varying degrees acceptable. Now, we need to go right back to the board, wipe it all clean and say no violence is acceptable, That may sound extreme, but if we don’t have a zero tolerance attitude, where are we going to start,” Pitman says.
WATER COULD PULL TOGETHER IWI BODY
Tainui chairperson Tukoroirangi Morgan says a new national body would give Maori more muscle to negotiate ownership of the country's water.
Tainui played a leading role at the weekend gathering of tribes at Pukawa at which such a body was discussed.
It also held a closed door session with Tuwharetoa, Whanganui and Ngai Tahu last month to discuss ways to challenge the policy on water ownership and management now being developed within government.
Mr Morgan says like the foreshore and seabed, water is an issue which can bring Maori together.
“The issue over ownership of water is a huge issue for every iwi in this country, because it impacts on everyone. It is an issue that’s unavoidable, and we either confront it as individual iwi, or we do it in a collective manner. It makes better sense to unite,” Morgan says.
He says the new Maori body is likely to combine traditional leadership with political advocacy.
ROOM FOR MORE MAORI MONEY MANAGERS
There's room for more Maori in investment banking.
That's the view of Brett Shepherd, from Ngati Maru in Hauraki, who for the past three years has been chief executive and managing director of global banking at Deutsche Bank in Auckland.
Mr Shepherd honed his business skills with investment bankers Faye Richwhite.
He says the skill base required to work in investment banking is having a good head for figures, and the ability to get on with people.
He says the Maori psyche is well suited to the sector, although there are relatively few involved.
“Interact with people, that’s a key part, we are a service industry. That’s something Maori have, Maori have a great natural affinity with people which is important in driving a business as well as developing client relationships. But it’s very light on Maori participation within the industry,” Shepherd says.
IMPORT POHUTUKAWA THREATENING NZ CHRISTMAS
Pohutukawa are starting to blossom around the country, a sure sign summer is on the way.
But there are fears introduced species may put an end to the annual show.
Pita Turei, from Ngai Tai, south east of Auckland, where pohutukawa grow prolifically, says many of his iwi are concerned at the threat posed by overseas plants.
He says most New Zealanders, including Maori, don't recognise how vulnerable the distinctive tree is to cross breeding.
Mr Turei says the danger is at the local garden centre.
“Garden shops are now selling hybridised Lord Howe Island, Tahitian pohutukawa, and Kermadec pohutukawa, which are totally different form our pohutukawa in that they blossom all the year round. It means that we are going to lose our annual blossom of the pohutukawa and they hybridise them with all the new ones they are bringing in,” Turei says.
Ngai Tahu's report for the year ending June 30 shows the corporation made a pre-tax profit of only $9 million compared with $31 million the previous year, resulting in an overall loss for the South Island tribe of almost $11 million.
It showed 43 staff earned more than $100 thousand dollars, with the top earner making between $1.1 and $1.2 million, including redundancy and compensation payments.
Ngai Tahu Runanga chairperson Mark Solomon says he was unhappy with the payment to Dr Pratt, but couldn't stop it.
“There was a payment made by the Holdings Corporation. I’m not in favour of the golden handshakes, but it was done by a board that had the delegated authority to do so. We now have to carry it,” Solomon says.
Mark Solomon says the overall result reflected difficult trading conditions and asset write-offs in the tribe's fishing operations, but he expects a significant improvement during the current year
JUDICIAL CONFERRENCE LAST HOPE FOR SOME CLAIMANTS
Treaty lawyer Annette Sykes says claimants hope today's Waitangi Tribunal judicial conference in Wellington will result in an inquiry into the settlement process.
Tribunal Judge Carrie Wainwright has asked a wide range of claimants to say why such an inquiry is justified and how it could proceed.
Ms Sykes represents some Te Arawa iwi who are standing outside a supposed iwi-wide settlement reached between the Crown and umbrella group Nga Kaihautu o Te Arawa.
She says Maori have turned to the tribunal because they can't get the courts to listen to their concerns.
“There is a grave reluctance by the judiciary to enter into what they call political discussions around constitutional matters, So all of the various groups that are waiting patiently and watching many of their assets, their taonga being given away to other people, have concerns about the way the policy is dealing with them,” Sykes says.
ANTI SMACKING BILL NEEDS TOUGHENING UP
Anti violence campaigner Mereana Pitman says the anti-smacking bill doesn't address the core of the problem.
Pitman, a member of a group working on the Kahungunu Family Violence Prevention strategy, says there is no quick fix because domestic violence is often intergenerational in whanau.
She says the select committee watered down Green MP Sue Bradford's original bill and left it ambiguous and open to interpretation.
Ms Pitman says a total ban on smacking may seem extreme, but everyone would know where they stand.
“We often think of violence in degrees. That’s pretty much the norm in Maoridom, that hitting and slapping is to varying degrees acceptable. Now, we need to go right back to the board, wipe it all clean and say no violence is acceptable, That may sound extreme, but if we don’t have a zero tolerance attitude, where are we going to start,” Pitman says.
WATER COULD PULL TOGETHER IWI BODY
Tainui chairperson Tukoroirangi Morgan says a new national body would give Maori more muscle to negotiate ownership of the country's water.
Tainui played a leading role at the weekend gathering of tribes at Pukawa at which such a body was discussed.
It also held a closed door session with Tuwharetoa, Whanganui and Ngai Tahu last month to discuss ways to challenge the policy on water ownership and management now being developed within government.
Mr Morgan says like the foreshore and seabed, water is an issue which can bring Maori together.
“The issue over ownership of water is a huge issue for every iwi in this country, because it impacts on everyone. It is an issue that’s unavoidable, and we either confront it as individual iwi, or we do it in a collective manner. It makes better sense to unite,” Morgan says.
He says the new Maori body is likely to combine traditional leadership with political advocacy.
ROOM FOR MORE MAORI MONEY MANAGERS
There's room for more Maori in investment banking.
That's the view of Brett Shepherd, from Ngati Maru in Hauraki, who for the past three years has been chief executive and managing director of global banking at Deutsche Bank in Auckland.
Mr Shepherd honed his business skills with investment bankers Faye Richwhite.
He says the skill base required to work in investment banking is having a good head for figures, and the ability to get on with people.
He says the Maori psyche is well suited to the sector, although there are relatively few involved.
“Interact with people, that’s a key part, we are a service industry. That’s something Maori have, Maori have a great natural affinity with people which is important in driving a business as well as developing client relationships. But it’s very light on Maori participation within the industry,” Shepherd says.
IMPORT POHUTUKAWA THREATENING NZ CHRISTMAS
Pohutukawa are starting to blossom around the country, a sure sign summer is on the way.
But there are fears introduced species may put an end to the annual show.
Pita Turei, from Ngai Tai, south east of Auckland, where pohutukawa grow prolifically, says many of his iwi are concerned at the threat posed by overseas plants.
He says most New Zealanders, including Maori, don't recognise how vulnerable the distinctive tree is to cross breeding.
Mr Turei says the danger is at the local garden centre.
“Garden shops are now selling hybridised Lord Howe Island, Tahitian pohutukawa, and Kermadec pohutukawa, which are totally different form our pohutukawa in that they blossom all the year round. It means that we are going to lose our annual blossom of the pohutukawa and they hybridise them with all the new ones they are bringing in,” Turei says.
posted by Adam | 12:55 am
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