Special Resolution Documents - Trust Deeds, Constitution & Information Booklet

Special Resolution Document Portal

Kia mataara e te iwi!

You're being asked to vote on an updated Trust Deed for Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui. This guide explains, in plain language, what the vote is about, what's changing, what's staying the same, and how to have your say before midday on Sunday 19 July 2026. 

Take your time with it. If anything isn't clear, call us on 0800 AWA TUPUA (0800 292 88782) or email office@ngatangatatiaki.co.nz. We're happy to help.

What is the Trust Deed?

The Trust Deed is the document that sets out how Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui works. It covers our purpose, our powers, how Trustees are chosen, and how the Trust is run on behalf of our people and our awa. Think of it as the rulebook for the Trust.

Why are we updating it now?

Three things have come together, so rather than ask you to vote more than once, we've brought them into a single vote:

• Ten years of experience. The Trust has been running since August 2014. A decade of doing the mahi has shown us some practical improvements worth making.
• What you told us in 2022. We ran a review called Tuia Te Taura Here, with hui up and down the awa, around the motu and online. Your feedback shaped several of these proposals.
• The law changed. We've updated the Deed to line up with the Trusts Act 2019, and with the Māori Fisheries Act 2004, which changed in 2024. As the mandated iwi organisation for Whanganui Iwi, we're required to make these updates. These deal process and enable the Trust to work properly.

What stays the same

We want to be clear about this first, because most of what you value isn't changing:

• Te Rūnanga o Te Awa Tupua stays, and takes on a slightly larger role.
• Te Pae Matua stays.
• Rangatahi Representatives stay.
• Our connection to the tūpuna rohe and our hapū voice continues.

What's changing

1. How our Trustees are nominated. We'll still have seven Trustees, the same as now. What changes is who puts them forward. Te Rūnanga o Te Awa Tupua will nominate four (it's three now), and Adult Registered Members will nominate three (it's four now). We're proposing this because it's what most whānau asked for in the 2022 review: more weight on the hapū voice through Te Rūnanga o Te Awa Tupua. You still nominate, and you still vote.
2. Removing Te Matua a Rohe. Te Matua a Rohe was set up in the original Deed to help reporting and feedback between the Trust and hapū, and to nominate our two Advisory Trustees. In practice, it didn't work the way it was meant to, and when the independent reviewers spoke with whānau in 2022, most people weren't sure what it did. The review recommended removing it. Under the updated Deed, the Trustees will appoint the two Advisory Trustees, using the same criteria as now. Our connection to the tūpuna rohe doesn't disappear: it continues through Te Rūnanga o Te Awa Tupua, which stays and grows.
3. Lining up with the law (the technical tidy-ups). A good portion of the changes are sensible updates to keep our Deed current and our settlement sound:

• Aligning Trustee powers, duties and protections with the Trusts Act 2019.
• Allowing Trustee meetings to be held electronically, and encouraging decisions by consensus.
• Updating the fisheries parts of the Deed to match the Māori Fisheries Act 2004, including how shares and reporting work, and a small consequential change to the constitution of Whanganui Iwi Investments Limited.
• Removing the old 80-year limit on how long the Trust can exist, which is no longer needed.

The full detail of every change is in the Amended and Restated Trust Deed is below. 

What you're actually voting on

The vote is a Special Resolution with two parts. You're approving the updated Deed, and you're confirming that the fisheries-related changes are for the collective benefit of Whanganui Iwi. That second part is required by the Māori Fisheries Act 2004, and the Trust has legal advice confirming the changes meet that test. One resolution, both parts about keeping our Deed current and our fisheries settlement sound.

For the resolution to pass, at least 75% of those who cast a valid vote need to vote in favour.

Who can vote?

Anyone aged 18 or over who is registered on the Whanganui Iwi Database. If you are not registered, or your details have changed, please update them now so your voting pack reaches you. Register or update by calling 0800 AWA TUPUA (0800 292 88782) or email us at office@ngatangatatiaki.co.nz.

How and when to vote

Voting is open from Friday 19 June and closes at midday on Sunday 19 July. You can vote three ways:

• Online, following the instructions on your ballot paper. Closes midday, 19 July.
• By post, using the ballot paper in your pack. Your envelope must be date-stamped by 19 July and reach Election Services by 22 July.
• In person, at the Trust office ballot box (357 Victoria Avenue) until 5pm on Friday 17 July, or at the Special General Meeting at Pūtiki Marae on Sunday 19 July (from 10am, voting closes midday).

The result will be announced after it's declared on 23 July.

Where to find more

• The full Amended and Restated Trust Deed below.
• Hard copies are available at the Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui office, 357 Victoria Avenue, Whanganui, or posted to you on request.
• If you have any pātai call us on 0800 AWA TUPUA (0800 292 88782) or email us at office@ngatangatatiaki.co.nz.

The documents below relate to the special resolution process that Whanganui Uri on the Whanganui Iwi Database are being asked to consider.  Once you click on the bold titles you will be taken straight to the document. 

This link takes you to the current Trust Deed of Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui that was ratified on the 4th of August 2014 and has been operating since that date:  

Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui Trust Deed - ratified 4 August 2014

This links take you to the Amended and Redrafted Trust Deed for your consideration:

Amended and Redrafted Trust Deed of Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui

This link takes you to the Constitution with Whanganui Iwi Investments which has been amended to meet the Māori Fisheries Act amendments 2024.

Whanganui Iwi Investments Constitution 

Finally, here is a link to the report from Tuia Te Taura Here, the Trust Deed review held throughout 2022. 

Tuia Te Taura Here Report

If you have not received your voting documents by 19 June please contact the office on 0800 292 88782 or by email at office@ngatangatatiaki.co.nz.