Ngā Pou a Tāne Incorporation is the National Māori Forestry Association
The Association was established in March 2022 to provide support to Māori forest landowners. Our members represent 15,000 whānau, hapū, and Iwi nationwide. We are still growing.
Māori forestry interests are framed within The Māori Creation Story which captures our whakapapa (all our relations) to Te Moana Nui a Kiwa (systems originating in the Pacific), Te Ao Māori (the Māori world within, between and beyond Ranginui sky father and Papatūānuku earth mother), and Tangata Whenua (People-of-the-Land) communities, industry, the wider nation of New Zealand, and the world.
Ngā Pou a Tāne is characterised by our determination for forests on Māori land to symbolise resilience.
In 1840, our ancestors safeguarded substantial spiritual connection, economic and material interests in native forest, fisheries, and land with Queen Victoria of England through Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi). Ngā taonga tuku iho (the treasures of birthright) continue to be passed from generation to generation.
In our generation, the forest land compulsorily annexed by various means during the 1800s and 1900s is returned through negotiations with the Crown (New Zealand Government). This land was purchased by Iwi based on the maximum value and use of the land as commercial forest. Seventy plus settlement Acts have seen 511,000 plus hectares of ex-Crown Forest License Land returned with option to purchase forest cutting rights from private forest owners. Further CFL land is on a list to be transferred through future settlements. In 2017, a cutting right was bought back by the landowners of Rotoehu Forest, and others have followed in similar fashion. Today, 194,000+ hectares of forest are owned, have been planted and are being managed by Māori land trusts, and incorporations.
In addition, Tangata Whenua have interests in more than 1 million hectares of native forest land and maintain mana whakahaere (customary control rights) over the endemic flora and fauna within New Zealand’s natural forest ecosystems.
An expanding range of cultural and industry responsibilities and legislative requirements of a highly regulated and increasingly competitive environment while growing the value of the national Māori forest demands competent national level technical and specialist support. Ngā Pou a Tāne exists to helps its members and affiliates source good information and respond effectively.
At present Ngā Pou a Tāne is consulting towards a National Māori Forestry Strategy with a vision and strategic intent to guide national and international level decisions, and grow the ownership of whānau, hapū and Iwi-owned forestry value chains.
Our Purpose
He whanake, he pupuri hoki i tētahi hanganga tautoko whakakaurahi mā ngā rōpū ā-rohe, e taea ai te whakamana i te iwi Māori i roto i te raupapa uara mahi ngahere.
To develop and maintain an augmented support structure through regional branches that enable and empower Māori both in and into the forestry value chain.
He mahitahi i te taha o te Karauna hei reo mārohirohi, reo whai wheako, reo whaihua, hei māngai hoki mā ngā hapori Māori me ngā kaitiaki whenua Māori, ki te whakawhanake kaupapa here hei kōkiri i ngā wawata o aua hapori me te kaupare i ngā pāpātanga panonitanga ture, waeture hoki o nanahi, o nāianei, o āpōpō hoki.
To partner the Crown with a constructive and powerful voice, representing Māori communities and landowners to develop policy that furthers Māori aspirations in the forestry value chain and obviate negative policy impacts both prospective and retrospectively.
Board Members
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Donna Awatere Huata
MA Hons Diploma of Teaching Diploma of Educational Psychology
Donna currently holds the positions of Māori Climate Commissioner, Chair of Te Arawa Oranga Tamariki Working Group, Secretary of Te Whare Whakaruruhau o Te Arawa Building Social and Cultural Rangatiratanga and Secretary of Te Arawa Education Taskforce.
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Te Kapunga Dewes
Ngāti Porou, Te Arawa, Te Whakatohea
Te Kapunga has twenty years senior management experience in the forestry and manufacturing sectors, including CEO of PF Olsen Ltd, the largest privately owned forestry company in Australasia. He is currently CEO of Whenua Oho, a Māori Landowner advisory, advocacy, and consultancy service. Te Kapunga is on a number of Māori Trusts, government advisory groups, and is Chair of Ngā Pou a Tāne – The National Māori Forestry Association.
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Whaimutu Dewes
“E noho koe ki te ngaki i nga werawera a o matua tipuna mo nga uri whakatipu”.
Whaimutu Dewes, of Ngati Porou and Ngati Rangitihi descent, is constantly reminded of the strictures of his elders to realise the aspirations of the people for the generations that follow has an intense interest in the role of economics and governance in New Zealand and Maori economic development.
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Mike King
Mike is the Managing Director Of Interpine Group of companies including Interpine Group Ltd, Interpine Holdings Ltd, Interpine Innovation Ltd and Interpine Global Ltd. He is a strategic and innovative thinker who brings a positive disruptive approach to solution finding. With grass roots wisdom and experience from the 40+yrs of involvement within the forestry sector, Mike is a valuable contributor. In addition, Interpine brings a broad range of experience and expertise to the forestry value chain.
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Doug Macredie
BA Parks and Recreation, Post Grad Dip Marketing, Dip – Adult Ed, NC L4 Health and Safety
He currently holds the position of Strategic Relations Manager Walking Access Commission. In his most recent position, Doug was the Principal Advisor Māori Te Uru Rakau for the NZ Forest Service and was responsible for guiding the building of relationships with Māori across TUR and MPI, driving Internal capability development relative to te Ao Maori, guiding policy advice to the minister regarding Māori land and aspirations and scoping out Te Tiriti o Waitangi responsibilities.
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Lees Seymour
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Hoturoa te tangata
Ko Pirongia te maunga
Ko Kāwhia moana te moana
Ko Ngāti Hikairo te iwi
Ko Waipapa te marae
Tihei mauri ora !Lees currently holds the positions of Strategic Advisor – Global Forest Partners (U.S.A), Director Timberlands Limited ( Kaingaroa Timberlands), Director Wakatū Incorporation, Managing Director Nelson Consulting Group, Tainui Kāwhia Incorporation Committee of Management and Forest and Wood Products Industry Transformation Plan – Chair.
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Ernest Morton
Hei ahua manawaroa kia waihotia hei taonga anga mua.
Ernest is a purpose-driven Forestry Professional with experience in a variety of settings spanning 40+ years which includes employing and training our local people, silviculture, export, purchase of woodlots and forestry management. He specialises both in negotiation and, with a common wairua, bringing a diversity of operations and cultures together that produces results.
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Rawson Wright
Rawson is the managing director of Wright Partners Ltd, deputy chair of Te Taumata, chairman of Taitokerau Forest Limited, a committee of management member for Kaitoto Station, Enterprise Advisor on FoMA Innovation Team, Māori Advisory Group for Te Uru Rakau/Forestry New Zealand, and an advisory member of Treasury, Overseas Investment and Forestry Reference group.
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Bob Cottrell
Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga
Robert (Bob) is a businessman and proud Māori agribusiness supporter. Currently, he is Chairman of Te Awahohonu Forest Trust, Director of Awhina Management Ltd and a member of the Māori Primary Industry Forum (MPIF). Spanning his career, he has been a member of a number of agency advisory groups including Chairman of AgResearch's Iwi Futures Governance Group, Director of the Red Meat Profit Partnership’s - Project Steering Group (PSG), and past executive member of FoMA (1997-2009).