January 15, 2020
Great service to Ngapuhi from Toki
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Ngāpuhi Rūnanga chair Mere Mangu says outgoing chief executive Lorraine Toki has done great service for Ngāpuhi.
Ms Toki resigned this week, as work started on an independent review of the rūnanga’s structure and finances led by Wellington barrister Tim Castle.
Although she held the top job for less than two years she has a long association with the rūnanga and its former chair Sonny Tau.
Ms Mangu says running the rūnanga is a demanding role, and Ms Toki felt it was a good time to go.
She’s confident a suitable replacement can be found soon.
“We have a saying in Māoridom ‘mate atu he tētēkura, ara mai he tētēkura’ – when one warrior dies there is always another to take its place. I think Ngāpuhi is vibrant and brilliant and all of those things so there will always be someone ready to step up and take the role,” Ms Mangu says.
The independent review is expected by the end of March.
Mr Castle was the author of a controversial 10-year review of the Māori Fisheries Settlement done in 2015 which recommended Te Ohu Kaimoana be wound up and its voting and income shares in Aotearoa Fisheries be transferred to iwi.
Legislation implementing some of those recommendations, including a scaled-back fisheries settlement trust, are still before parliament.
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