Tatau Tatau Trust Investigation
Investigation document: Tatau Tatau Trust Investigation
TĀTAU TĀTAU O TE WAIROA TRUST - COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION
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Investigation Date: December 26, 2024
Sources: ttotw.iwi.nz, NZ Herald, OneRoof, Colliers
ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW
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Name: Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust
Type: Post-Settlement Governance Entity (PSGE)
Established: 2013
Purpose: Manages Treaty of Waitangi settlement assets for Wairoa iwi
Website: https://www.ttotw.iwi.nz
TRUST STRUCTURE
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The Trust operates through multiple entities:
- Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust (main governance entity)
- Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trustee Limited
- E Tipu Commercial (commercial arm)
- Tātau Tātau Horticulture GP Limited
- Tātau Tātau Horticulture Limited
- Haumako (subsidiary)
CURRENT TRUSTEES (as of investigation date)
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- Leon Symes - CHAIR
- Representative for: Rongomaiwahine Iwi Kahui
- Other roles: Co-Chair of Matariki Governance Group (regional economic development)
- Director of companies in ICT, horticulture, Māori sector
- Pieri Munro - DEPUTY CHAIR
- Representative for: Te Whakaki Nui a Rua Kahui
- Former: Deputy Chief Executive Iwi and Community, NZ Police Superintendent
- Former: Te Pou Whakarae (Māori Partnerships Group Manager) at Hawke's Bay Regional Council
- Graeme Symes - TRUSTEE
- Representative for: Te Iwi o Rakaipaaka Kāhui
- Focus: Environmental preservation, native plant nursery
- Irah Heyder - TRUSTEE
- Representative for: Ngā Tokorima a Hinemanuhiri Kāhui
- Owner: Heyder Industries Limited (Wairoa)
- Background: Journalism, Tairāwhiti Community Law Centre, Korou Limited
- Phil Beattie - TRUSTEE
- Representative for: Te Wairoa Tapokorau Whānui Kāhui
- Focus: Whakapapa and matauranga
- Michelle McIlroy (nee Lewis) - TRUSTEE
- Representative for: Te Hononga o Nga Awa Kāhui
- Chairwoman: Body Representing Māori interests in Wairoa (BRM)
- Trustee: Hinemihi Marae
- Active in: Cyclone Gabrielle recovery
KAHUI REPRESENTATIVES (Additional)
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- Cordry Huata (Chairman) - Ngā Tokorima a Hinemanuhiri
- John Waihape - Te Wairoa Tapokorau Whānui
- Irene Campbell - Rongomaiwahine
- Walter Wilson - Te Whakakī nui-a-rua
- Richard Niania - Te Hononga o Ngā Awa
- Hine Kohn - Te Wairoa Tapokorau Mai Tawhiti
- Mana Hunkin - Ngāti Rakaipaaka
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM
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- Lewis Ratapu - Pou Āhurei (Chief Executive Officer, Trust)
- Aayden Clarke - Kaihautū (Chief Executive, E Tipu Commercial)
- Rod Hale - Pou Herenga (General Manager Services, Programmes & Technology)
- Tineka Hall - Chief Operating Officer, E Tipu Commercial
- Robin Kaa - General Manager, Haumako
COMMERCIAL BOARD DIRECTORS
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- Shayne Walker - Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Whatumamoa
Current: CEO Te Awahohonu Forest Trust
- Renata Hakiwai - Ngāti Kahungunu, Rongomaiwahine, Tainui, Tāwharetoa, Ngāti Porou
Partner: HTK Ventures
Adviser to government on Māori economic development
- Wi Pere Mita - Te Aitanga-ā-Mahaki, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, etc.
- Philip Te Hau - Rongomaiwahine, Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa
Active in: Morere Hot Pools redevelopment
- Craig Barrett - Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto
Partner: Baker Tilly Staples Rodway
15+ years governance experience
- Darren Beatty - Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou, Te Roroa, Ngā Puhi
Focus: Renewable energy projects, capital access
MAHIA BEACH HOLIDAY PARK ACQUISITION
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TRANSACTION DETAILS
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Property: Mahia Beach Motel & Holiday Park
Address: 43 Moana Drive, Mahia
Size: 3 hectares (30,036m² land area)
Floor area: 1,520m²
SALE PRICE: $4,880,000 (2023 sale)
Council Valuation (2024): $4,840,000
Settlement Date: April 5, 2024
Announcement Date: March 6, 2024
PARTIES INVOLVED
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Seller: Isobel Creswell (Hastings-based businesswoman)
- Owned property for 3.5 years (purchased ~2020)
- Previous role: Managed Hastings Top 10 Holiday Park (from Sept 2010)
Buyer: E Tipu Commercial (commercial arm of Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust)
Real Estate Agent: Colliers Hawke's Bay
- Brokers: Jack Elliott and Danny Blair
- Listed: January 2022 (sale by negotiation)
PROPERTY HISTORY
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- Year Built: 1985
- Previous listing: January 2022
- Sale completed: 2023 (to Tātau Tātau)
- Ownership transfer: April 5, 2024
STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE
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The Trust describes this as a "100-year vision" - long-term strategic investment
Property renamed: "Mahia Beach Resort"
Purpose: Ensure iconic beach location remains accessible to community
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
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Purchase Price: $4,880,000
This appears to be a standard commercial transaction at market value.
No evidence found of "under the table" payments or irregular transactions.
CONNECTIONS TO PROTOCOL 777 INVESTIGATION
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POTENTIAL CONNECTIONS TO INVESTIGATE
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- KIRIONA CONNECTION: User requested investigation of "Kiriona" connections to Tātau Tātau
- Need to search for individuals with Kiriona surname in trustee/director roles
- LAND HISTORY: The Mahia Peninsula has historical significance
- Potential connection to Winikerei Case (1947 land fraud)
- GEOGRAPHIC PROXIMITY: Mahia is in Wairoa district
- Need to investigate any connections between Trust and Napier entities
- ACCOUNTANT CONNECTION: Craig Barrett (Baker Tilly Staples Rodway)
- Or to 36 Bridge Street entities
NEXT INVESTIGATION STEPS
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- Search for "Kiriona" in Trust records
- Trace Mahia land ownership history pre-2020
- Investigate Isobel Creswell's business connections
- Check for any links between Trust directors and Napier entities
- Research Ruby Bock descendants for any Wairoa connections
Sources:
- https://www.ttotw.iwi.nz/about/our-people
- https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/wairoa-treaty-of-waitangi-post-settlement-group-buys-mahia-holiday-park/
- https://www.oneroof.co.nz/property/hawkes-bay/mahia/43-moana-drive/hnki3
- https://www.ttotw.iwi.nz/assets/Resources/Media-Release-6th-March-Mahia-Motor-Camp-Aquisition25.pdf