February 07, 2023
New Wakatu chair maintains long term view
The new chair of Nelson’s giant Wakatū Incorporation says 2023 is shaping up to be both exciting and challenging. for the nearly $500-million dollar Maori organisation.
Johnny McGregor, from Te Ātiawa and Ngāti Rārua, has been involved with the incorporation since it was formed in 1977 to manage the remnants of Māori reserved land in the Nelson and Motueka.
It now has an asset base approaching $500 million.
He says it’s keen to diversity its food and wine businesses, and has been exploring new health foods opportunities.
It also takes a long term view, with its Te PaeTawhiti – 500 Year Plan causing a stir when he explained it during a recent indigenous trade event overseas.
“It sort of blew their minds, because they were like, wow, how do you have a 500 year plan? And I think it’s one of the things I’m most proud of actually. Because it sets the platform for us to have intergenerational thinking, long-term thinking so we can make those good decisions, not just commercial for now decisions, but decisions for the next generations that come through,” he says.
Mr McGregor says Wakatū has invested in developing not only its land but its 4,000 owners, and that’s paying off with board and staff members now commonly holding tertiary degrees.