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Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

Iwi Organisation

Largest South Island iwi. Treaty settlement in 1998 ($170M). Major commercial interests across property, tourism, fishing, and farming.

Total Assets
$2.2B
Revenue
$336.8M
Officers
169
Subsidiaries
47

Iwi Details

Rohe (Region)
Te Waipounamu (South Island)
Registered Members
86,725

Treaty Settlement

Settlement information not yet available for this iwi.

Distributions to Beneficiaries

$80.8M
Marae
$461K
Health
$3.4M

FY2025 distribution of $80.8m (4.6% of net tribal assets) from NTHC to Office of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu for allocation across cultural, wellbeing, environmental, regional development, and rights and interests programmes. Distributions allocated to Hauora Grants ($3.38m), Marae Development Fund ($461k), education/scholarships, cultural programmes, freshwater initiatives, health services, housing support, business grants, and Papatipu Rūnaka regional development.

Current Officers

169
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T
Trevor Burt
Affiliated Director
D
Dr David Kerr
Affiliated Director
R
Ray Watson
Affiliated Director
S
Stuart McLauchlan
Affiliated Director
C
Catherine Drayton
Affiliated Director
A
Anake Goodall
Affiliated Director
S
Sidney Ashton
Affiliated Director
M
Mark Tume
Affiliated Director
S
Stuart McLauchlan
Affiliated Director
C
Craig Ellison
Affiliated Director
P
Pari Hunt
Alternate
M

+ 157 more officers

Service Providers

Auditor(1)
Toitū Carbon Reduce Programme

carbon emissions auditing

2025
Legal Advisors(1)
Chris Finlayson QC
2020
Investment Managers(2)
Mercer
2022
Mercer (NZ) Ltd
2020
Consultants(9)
Aukaha

environmental and resource management

2020
BERL (Business and Economic Research Limited)

economic and business research

2020
Envirostrat

environmental and impact investment

2020
Ihi Research

evaluation / research

2025
ImpactLab

evaluation / social impact

2025
Kitson Consulting

conservation / environmental

2025
Mahaanui Kurataiao

environmental management and resource management

2020
Toitū Envirocare

greenhouse gas emissions auditing

2023
Tokona te Raki

strategy, social innovation, education, tribal visioning

2023–2025
Other(5)
Anne Noble ONZM

photographer / artist

2025
Aoraki Environmental Consultancy

Environmental consulting on irrigation scheme conditions

2021
Aukaha

Technical advice on freshwater matters

2021–2023
Te Ao Mārama

environmental and planning support

2021–2023
Te Māngai Pāho

Funding support for Tahu FM radio station

2021
Partners & Stakeholders(15)
Archives New Zealand

partnership on Ngāi Tahu Archive facility development

2021–2023
Contact Energy

Energy provider

2021
Department of Conservation

Crown partnership on conservation and freshwater matters

2021
Dive Otago

Partnership on Ngāi Tahu Undaria Control Programme

2021
Macpac

tenant in Wānaka building

2020
Mahaanui Kurataiao

Partnership on resource and environmental management for property developments

2021
Meridian Energy

Green energy partnership and advice

2021
Oranga Tamariki

Partnership contract for iwi-led prevention and early intervention services (26 million dollar contract)

2021
PGG Wrightson

tenant in Pākākano building

2020
Poutama

Partnership on business support for Puna Pakihi

2021
Tihei Mauri Ora

Partnership on emergency response support

2021
Toitū Te Whenua / LINZ

Partnership on Jobs for Nature programme for Undaria control

2021
University of Canterbury

Partnership for Māori Futures Academy - centre for indigenous social innovation

2021
University of Otago

Partnership on Ngāi Tahu Undaria Control Programme

2021
Vodafone Foundation

Partnership for digital career pathways in Murihiku

2021

Strategic Priorities

74
1Hold the Crown to account on Treaty obligations
2Ensure Kāi Tahutaka shines through in strategic delivery
3Support Papatipu Rūnaka aspirations and economic self-determination
4Deliver value for investment
5Implement and embed Mō Kā Uri - Kāi Tahu 2050 as strategic anchor
6Optimize financial settings and distribution sustainability
7Advance freshwater protection and rakatirataka through Ngāi Tahu Wai Māori Claim
8Develop and implement Taonga Assets Policy
9Strengthen whānau health, wellbeing and cultural confidence
10Build Papatipu Rūnaka commercial capability and economic independence

+ 64 more priorities

Key Risks

61
Political friction on Treaty matters and constitutional rights being challenged
Economic uncertainty and weak domestic economy affecting portfolio performance
Climate change impacts on coastal marae, urupā, wāhi tapu and taoka species
Irrigation restrictions and dry weather impacting farming operations (e.g., Hikawaikura)
Market volatility and geopolitical tensions affecting investment returns
Population growth and inflation outpacing portfolio distribution capacity
Weak economic conditions in China impacting seafood pricing
Dependency on specific sectors (primary industries, property, tourism)

+ 53 more risks identified