Dana Kawana Blackburn

Chairman

Experience:

* Farming: Owner and Director of sizeable sheep and beef farm at Karioi
* Farming: Agricultural Contracting Director of Karioi Grain Company Ltd
* Governance: 12 years service to Atihau Whanganui Incorporation (AWHI) in various governance roles
  • Milestones & Highlights with AWHI:

    * 1999 - Operations Manager - change the management style
    * 1999 – 2005: Led negotiations with Leaseholders for return of land – increased land holding from 20,000 to over 70,000 acres.
    * 2004 - General Manager
    * Implemented a modern business structure including the adoption of a governance style of stewardship and the appointment of a CEO.
    * Refreshed AWHI’s strategic direction:
    * Winner of 2007 Ahuwhenua Trophy for Maori Excellence in Farming
    * Winner of Ballance Environmental Awards – Horizon region..
    * Increase in stock units: from 120,000 to over 200, 000.
    * Increase in acreage: from 30,000 to 80,000 acres.
    * Increase in gross income: from $5 million to $10million
    * $3 million regional development grant from Government
    * Established AWHI’s first dairy unit
  • Future for AWHI:

    * Further enhance our excellence in our core business of farming
    * Stabilise the new business structure to ensure best practice in governance
    * Harness the benefits of the “one farm” approach
    * Establish an electricity generation project
    * Progress environmentally sustainable projects to protect our ancestral domain (water rights, harakeke, carbon credits, Kyoto)
    * Foster closer relationships with other Incorporations and trusts for mutual benefit
    * Develop opportunities that derive from our large number of stock units and land holding.
    * Develop employment opportunities for shareholders and our iwi (farming, tourism, carbon management)
    * Develop a succession plan for future board members with clear direction and understanding of the 3 year commitment involved

Abe John Hepi JP

Experience:

* Post Graduate Business Study – Massey University (2003 to present)
* Business Mentor (2001 to present)
* Hotel/Motel Owner (1993 to present)
* Tavern Owner (1984-93)
* Trucking Contractor (1977-84)
* Certified Automotive Engineer (1971-77)
  • Governance:

    * Executive Director – Atihau Whanganui Incorporation (2006 to present)
    * Executive Director – HANZ National Board (2001 to 2007)
    * Executive Director – Major Regional Initiative Tourism Board (2004 to present)
    * Trustee Chairman – Ahuwhenua Trust, Hamilton (2000 to present)
    * Justice of Peace
    * Certificate of Director Governance – NZ Institute of Directors, CCMAU
    * Past Chair – Te Manu Atatu Inc (Whanganui Maori Business Networks)
    * President – HANZ Wanganui/Rangitikei Branch (1998 to present)
    * Company Director – Abro Properties Ltd (1978), Abro Holdings Ltd (2004)
    * Director – Aorangi Experience Ltd ( Joint Tourism venture River Valley)
    * Business Advisor – Te Puni Kokiri & NZ Trade & Enterprise
    * Waiouru Primary School Board of Trustees (1995 to 2000)
  • Values:

    * Practice prudent governance and sound leadership
    * Maintain empathy with shareholders and communicate regularly
    * Exercise commercial responsibility with fiduciary care
    * Apply a robust due diligence process before taking any financial decisions
    * Add value by promoting the sustainable development of assets

Don Edward Punete Robinson

Experience:

* 28 years experience with the Forest Industry
* 10 years Senior Management
* 26 years Military Service – Regular Territorial Forces
  • Governance:

    * Director on the Board of Atihau Whanganui Incorporation
    * Deputy Chairman of Atihau Whanganui Incorporation for last three years
    * Board member of Morikaunui Incorporation and Whanganui Trust 1997-2006
    * Board member of Proprietors of Pipiriki Township No 1 and other blocks Incorporation
    * Chairman of Proprietors of Pipiriki Township No 1 and other blocks Incorporation 1996-2005
    * Trustee of Ngaporo Waimarino Forest Trust
    * Chairman of Ngaporo Waimarino Forest Trust 2003-2006
    * Trustee of Ngamokai Papakainga Trust
    * Trustee of Te Poti Trust
  • Values:

    * Proactive prudent governance and sound leadership
    * Maintain empathy with shareholders
    * Exercise commercial responsibility
    * Add value to the organisation
    * Foster good relationships with other directors

    Future for AWHI:

    * Further enhance our excellence in our core business of farming
    * Stabilise the new business structure to ensure best practice in governance
    * Harness the benefits of the “one farm” approach
    * Establish an electricity generation project
    * Progress environmentally sustainable projects to protect our ancestral domain (water rights, harakeke, carbon credits, Kyoto)
    * Foster closer relationships with other Incorporations and trusts for mutual benefit
    * Develop opportunities that derive from our large number of stock units and land holding.
    * Develop employment opportunities for shareholders and our iwi (farming, tourism, carbon management)
    * Develop a succession plan for future board members with clear direction and understanding of the 3 year commitment involved

Che Wilson

Qualifications:

* Environmental hearings commissioner, AUT 2008
* Translator and interpreter, Te Taurawhiri i te Reo Maori 2002
* BA Hons (International Relations), VUW 1998
* BA (Maori and Political Science), VUW 1997
  • Key Achievements:

    * Curated award winning exhibition – Te Pihi Mata
    * Director and manager of consultancy – Intugen Ltd
    * Managed allocation and monitoring of £9m fund (UK)
    * Advisor to 2 Departmental Chief Executives, Secretary of Labour and Associate Minister
  • Iwi & Community Contribution:

    Surrounded by whānau, hapū and tribal leaders from a young age, they have guided me and passed on the responsibility of ensuring the collective knowledge of our tribe lives on, this includes the current contributions:

    * Floor member, Whanganui Trust
    * Chair, Te Reo o Whanganui
    * Member, Te Kahui o Paerangi (Ngati Rangi runanga)
    * Member, Ngati Rangi Claims Committee
    * Member, Tongariro-Taupo Conservation Board
    * Member, GNS National Maori Advisory Board

    Career & Specialist Skills:

    Working in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom, I have a strong policy background and have focused on education and community development. Upon my return home, Missy and I developed a consultancy to assist with community and environmental development and financial literacy. Key skills are:

    * Strategic Planning and Governance
    * Facilitation and Mentoring
    * Project Management

Mavis Mullins

Experience:

* Private enterprise:
o Director Paewai Mullins Shearing: shearing contractors / wool harvesters.
o Director Paewai Mullins Systems: business consultancy & advisory
o Director Kokamo Ltd: training delivery
* Governance: 20 years experience on public and private enterprises
  • Personal Milestones & Highlights:

    * 2008 led Paewai Mullins Shearing to win NZ Safeguard Health & Safety Best Overall Business
    * 2007 elected to Atihau Whanganui Incorporation Committee of Management www.atihau.co.nz
    * 2005 NZ Maori Sports Awards named as Sports Administrator of the Year
    * 2004 Appointed as a Councilor to Massey University
    * 2004 Appointed Director to Hautaki Ltd (commercial arm of THTT)
    * 2003 Appointed as a trustee to Poutama Trust delivering economic development products to Maori. www.poutama.co.nz
    * 2003 Appointed to SOE Landcorp Farming NZ
    * 2001 Awarded NZ Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to the wool industry
    * 2000 Govt appointee to Maori Spectrum (Te Huarahi Tika Trust) charged with establishing a third mobile network for NZ. 2002 elected Chair. www.maorispectrum.co.nz
    * 1997 elected to Aohanga Inc a multiple owned sheep and beef farming operation. 2006 elected Chairman www.aohanga.co.nz
    * 1996 led Paewai Mullins Shearing certification to ISO 9002 a world first
    * 1996 MBA from Massey University
    * 1995 Winner of Maori Business Women’s Award for employment creation
    * Runner up Maori Business Women’s Award overall excellence
    * 1994 led Paewai Mullins Shearing winner Manawatu BDB Quality Awards
  • My Commitment to AWHI:

    * To assist with the strategic direction and success of AWHI
    * To utilize my relationships and networks for the benefit of AWHI
    * To do all I can to make our people proud of their AWHI links

Toni James Davis Waho

Experience:

* Te Reo and Tikanga Māori: A learnt highly fluent speaker of Māori and conversant with our Whanganui dialect. Began teaching career as a lecturer at the Palmerston North Teacher’s College and progressed to teach in kōhanga reo. I am currently the Principal of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Mana Tamariki in Palmerston North.
* Governance and Management: As a school Principal I understand the divide between the two and the important role the Committee of Management or Board of Directors (Governance) has to lead Management (CEO and other staff) to fulfil the Committee’s Strategic and Business plans.
* Strategic and business planning: I have been involved in both for my current employer, Te Rūnanganui o ngā Kura Kaupapa Maōri o Aotearoa, responsible for leading and supporting the Kura Kaupapa Māori movement (1993 – 2005) and recently Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board. The Challenge for AWHI is to apply Māori cultural perspectives to its business and agricultural environment.
* Policy development and analysis: I have worked closely with Head Office Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry of Education developing and analysing Education policy.
  • Milestones & Highlights with AWHI:

    * Assisting the development of the new Governance structure
    * Appointment of the new CEO
    * Promoting the “one farm” approach
    * Developing the Māori Guiding Principles Framework to apply to AWHI decision making processes
    * Active in the Tangata Whenua Committee
    * The erection of Te Hononga – the pou on the Tawanui Station windfarm testing site
    * Celebrating the success of Pah Hill Station with the management team and shareholders
  • Future for AWHI:

    * Embedding the Maori Guiding Principles Framework within the organisation
    * The achievement of the ‘one farm’ approach
    * Harnessing the advantage of our size
    * Pressuring the farming sector to out perform itself to increase returns to shareholders – despite the current adverse conditions
    * Development of our energy projects
    * Sorting out our relationship with the Whanganui Trust
    * Expansion of our dairy activities
    * Continued pursuit of the commercial redress relating to the vested lands fiasco AWHI inherited through no fault of our own
    * Continued positive engagement with our shareholders

Whatarangi Murphy - Peehi

Experience:

* Farming: Owner and Director of sizeable sheep and beef farm - Kaahu Estates, winner of Southern Region Ahuwhenua Trophy 2003.
* Farming: Owner and Director of Karioi Dairy farm Ltd
* Forestry: Joint Ventures
* Governance: 20 years service to Atihau Whanganui Incorporation (AWHI) in various governance roles – the last three years as Chairman
  • Milestones & Highlights with AWHI:

    * Implemented a modern business structure including the adoption of a governance style of stewardship and the appointment of a CEO.
    * Refreshed AWHI’s strategic direction:
    * Winner of 2007 Ahuwhenua Trophy for Maori Excellence in Farming
    * Winner of Ballance Environmental Awards – Horizon region..
    * Increase in stock units: from 120,000 to over 200, 000.
    * Increase in acreage: from 30,000 to 80,000 acres.
    * Increase in gross income: from $5 million to $10million
    * $3 million regional development grant from Government
    * Established AWHI’s first dairy unit
    * Station blessings by shareholders
  • Future for AWHI:

    * Further enhance our excellence in our core business of farming
    * Stabilise the new business structure to ensure best practice in governance
    * Harness the benefits of the “one farm” approach
    * Establish an electricity generation project
    * Progress environmentally sustainable projects to protect our ancestral domain (water rights, harakeke, carbon credits, Kyoto)
    * Foster closer relationships with other Incorporations and trusts for mutual benefit
    * Develop opportunities that derive from our large number of stock units and land holding.
    * Develop employment opportunities for shareholders and our iwi (farming, tourism, carbon management)
    * Develop a succession plan for future board members with clear direction and understanding of the 3 year commitment involved