We have had some changes in Directors on our Trading Trust very recently and we are keen to share this news with whānau.

Trading Trust Chairman Richard Barker has resigned to pursue an exciting new opportunity further afield in Australia. Richard joined the Trading Trust in 2017 and was later appointed Chairman of the Trading Trust. He has done an excellent job leading our Trading Trust and despite uncertain times around the world, he has given us confidence that we can manage our way through and preserve our tribal financial assets. His departure is a loss to Ngāti Rangitihi. However, we thank him for his services and will continue to stay connected with him. We wish him and his whānau well as they embark on their new adventure.

To this end, after careful selection, we are pleased to have appointed Graham Pryor as the new Chairman of our Trading Trust and Director. Many of you will know Graham well from his previous roles as Trustee, Chair and interim manager of Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust from 2009 to 2015. Graham was also one of three Treaty Settlement negotiators on behalf of the CNI Iwi Collective. Graham is a good leader, with more the 20 years of excellent strategic planning and accounting skills and a track record of achieving solid business results. He has helped achieved great things for our Iwi and we are pleased to welcome him back in an active role on our Trading Trust. There is no doubt he will do a fantastic job as Chair.

Te Kapunga Dewes also joined our Trading Trust recently as a Director. We are pleased to have Te Kapunga on board and we know he will do well to help protect, grow and manage our Ngāti Rangitihi financial assets for the benefit our Iwi. Te Kapunga comes from a wide and varied background, including strong experience in the forestry industry. The past 15 years have seen him in General Manager or CEO roles of various companies, including holding numerous trans-Tasman responsibilities. He is also passionate about engaging with his iwi and tribal connections and using his skills to give back to his communities. Over the years, he has helped create te reo revitalisation strategies, organised te reo classes, and marae noho.

We wish Richard well in his next journey, and at the same time we welcome our new Trading Trust Chair and Directors.