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April 28, 2022
Barber seeks heads up on Takitimu Seafoods haircut
Adam Gifford
Posted On April 28, 2022
Download AudioThe new chair of the Ngāti Kahungunu says his first task will be to look under the hood at the rūnanga’s businesses.
Bayden Barber unseated Ngahiwi Tomoana, who has led the tribe for 26 years.
The election result was released on the same day Mr Tomoana, in his role as chair of Takitimu Seafoods, announced the company was looking at another significant loss on top of last year’s Covid-related $6 million deficit.
A proposed restructuring could mean 45 of the 70 full-time staff lose their jobs.
Mr Barber says the signals had been there for some time the business was in trouble.
“That was one of the things that drove my campaign, having more accountability back to the iwi about how those things are going because we are hearing things, but we are not seeing what is happening. We need more sunlight on it,” he says.
Bayden Barber says while Mr Tomoana had a high national and international profile, he intends to keep his focus on bringing together the sprawling iwi, which stretches from Paritu, just south of Gisborne, to Turakirae in south Wairarapa.
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