Date Created: June 2, 2021
Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui has welcomed Nancy Tuaine as the new Kaihautū (chief executive) of the Trust.
Nancy has whakapapa connections to Whanganui (Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Rangi) and has extensive experience in governance, management and Māori and iwi development.
She has held senior management roles within the public sector, including serving as Chief Advisor to the Chief Executive of Te Puni Kōkiri/the Ministry for Māori Development for three years, and serving as the Chief Executive of Whanganui health provider Te Oranganui between 2012 and 2016.
Trust Chairman Gerrard Albert said Nancy is well known within the iwi and has been involved with the Awa for several years.
“We are excited to announce Nancy’s appointment,” he said. “Nancy brings a wealth of iwi and central government experience to the Kaihautū role.
“She has always been committed to the health and wellbeing of the Awa and our people and she has a lot to offer the Trust, our staff and Whanganui hapū.”
The new role will be a natural shift for Nancy, who has been leading iwi initiatives in governance roles for Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui, Te Whawhaki Trust and Awa FM in recent years.
“I am excited to drive us into this new phase of our development for our people and our Awa and to carry on the important legacy that has been handed down to us,” she said.
“I get really passionate about the vision of our people, and I just want to get stuck in and make it happen.”
In 2014, the Whanganui River was legally recognised as Te Awa Tupua, a living and indivisible whole from the mountains to the sea, including all its physical and metaphysical elements.
Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui Trust is the post-settlement governance entity of Whanganui iwi for the purposes of the Whanganui River settlement.
Gerrard said Nancy has stepped down from her governance positions with the Trust.
“While we are sorry to lose Nancy as a Trustee, we are excited for the contribution she will make as Kaihautū.”
The Kaihautū role was advertised in mid-March following the resignation of Ray Hall.
Nancy has hit the ground running, and commenced her work in the role on Monday 31 May.
Do you whakapapa to the Whanganui River? Would you and your whānau like to be registered on the Whanganui Iwi Database? What does that mean?
It means that you get sent pānui and updates on kaupapa related to the Whanganui River and Te Awa Tupua, the people and the river from the Mountains to the Sea. You can also apply for the different grants that are advertised on our website and facebook page.
If you are already on the database and need to up date your details please head to the database or send us an email at office@ngatangatatiaki.co.nz