April 04, 2016
From farms to fish for PKW boss
Dion Tuuta from Ngati Mutunga, Ngati Tama and Taranaki has been appointed chief executive of the Maori fisheries settlement trust Te Ohu Kaimoana.
He's currently running giant Taranaki land incorporation Parininihi ki Waitotara as well as chairing Port Nicholson Fisheries Limited Partnership, a collective of over 20 iwi lobster quota owners, PKW and pan-Maori company Aotearoa Fisheries
Mr Tuuta was Ngati Mutunga's chief negotiator from 2002 to 2006 and set up Te Runanga o Ngati Mutunga's administration base in 2008.
He has also worked for Te Puni Kokiri's treaty settlements unit and foreshore and seabed teams, providing advice to the Minister of Maori Affairs on iwi mandating and representation, and he has been involved in a number of government consultation processes, most recently as a member of the Te Ture Whenua Maori Act Review Panel in 2012.
He's the cousin of Te Ohu Kaimoana chair Jamie Tuuta.
The board says they're confident Mr Tuuta will be able to complete the trust restructuring once he takes up the position in July.
Iwi have agreed that in future Te Ohu Kaimoana will be an agency providing high-level, responsive and accurate fisheries management and aquaculture advice and advocacy, as well as continuing iwi economic development.
A decision on how the trust will be funded was put on hold at its annual hui a tau last week, with a majority of iwi wanting a further look at whether it should turn its $74 million of investments into an endowment fund or if that money should be distributed to iwi.
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