The Hei o Wharekaho Settlement Trust (HoWST) AGM was held today at the Puahape Wharenui at Mercury Bay Area School. Around 25 people attended in person and 7 online. All trustees were present, with Trustee Sue McCosker online from Australia.
After opening mihi and karakia, Trustee Chair Peter Matai Johnston presented the historical context and history of the HoWST. This included a period where operations were transferred across to the Ngāti Hei (Charitable) Trust due to governance and operational failures under the first interim trustees. An independent review was commissioned by newly elected interim trustees. This report has now been made available for the benefit and learning of all iwi members.
Peter thanked Wyn Osborne, acting Interim Chief Exec for his leadership and for turning things around for Ngāti Hei – working with key agencies and stakeholders to rebuild trust and return the organisation to financial stability. The executive search for a full-time Kaiwhakahaere Matua/CE is a high priority for the trustees in early 2026, and the process is already underway..
Wyn Osborne then provided a report on the financial and operating performance of the HoWST. Growth in Tiaki Whenua and Tiaki Moana work is creating job opportunities and a baseline of income capable of supporting a small executive and administrative team.
Much of the focus in the last quarter of 2025 has been on Settlement readiness and the returning whenua assets. Peter Matai presented an overview of some of the Settlement whenua coming back to us and how the HoWST was organising around receiving the settlement. Peter raised the cancellation of Te Riporipo as an issue – the long-term, intergenerational planning wānanga that was planned for last September – and explained how important it was to re-start this work for the benefit of long-term planning by the HoWST – the importance being the ability of the people katoa to help shape their collective vision so that the administrative body can be supported when it moves in the direction collectively agreed upon.
There was much interest in the whenua presentation. The HoWST are committed to sharing more detail about the whenua assets when available.
A Q&A session followed. All reports and presentation materials are now available on the AGM 2025 page. You must be logged into the website as an Iwi Member to view.