Page 6 - Biennial Report

BIENNIAL REPORT2018-2020

HE MIHI AROHA…

Tena tatou e nga uri whakatipu o Diggeress raua ko Tana.

As Trustees, we would like to start this report by acknowledging the foresight of Mum/Nanny
and Dad/Papa all those years ago to create Te Kawaunui Trust as a way of protecting the taonga
tuku iho handed down to them and built by them. The act of forming a trust has allowed our
whanau to maintain a connection to our whenua, taonga assets, whakapapa as well as each
other.

There have been many challenges that the Trust has faced over the years. Following the passing
of Mum/Nanny in 2009 and subsequent appointment of two new trustees, whanau request and
ongoing debate from 2012, judicial recommendation to adopt a Trustee appointment policy
then the resignations of four founding trustees which led to the first election held in July 2018
to appoint four new trustees. A new beginning, a glimmer of hope to overcome roadblocks
and set a path forward to set us in the right direction.

The first year of our term as trustees were dedicated to taking stock of where we are and
dealing with the more immediate issues that were facing the trust at the time. At times you
have been frustrated, as have we but please know that behind the scenes we have been
unravelling and realigning things to hopefully make things better.

We have been working on building a foundation for the trust to operate. This has included
drafting a 5 year strategy, redrafting our trust deed, overhauling the internal working of our
governance, setting up portfolios of work and undertaking a master planning exercise for our
land block to see how we can better use the land we have. On the more tangible side of things;
painting the house, updating the water, ensuite repairs, workshop painted and re-organised,
updating of bank signatories, consolidation of bank accounts, sorting out Council Rate, Bach
leased, fireplace repaired, installation of heat transfer kit and cleaning of the septic tank.

Lastly we would like to thank all the whanau who have helped the Trustees look after the
Homestead, for being so patient whilst we slowly take care of the much needed repairs.

We are grateful that you are there keeping the home fires burning (literally now).

Ngā mihi nui
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