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10
This 2016 Annual Report gives us
the opportunity to reflect on the
development we have achieved in
20 years and the contribution that
we as an iwi authority have made to
improving the lives of our members.
Our look back into the past is both
interesting and telling.
Tribal membership has tripled, we have turned our
settlement sum of $170 million into an asset base
worth $1.22 billion, our landholdings have increased
10-fold, we have settled our Waikato River claim, and
many more of our members have formal education
qualifications. Social programmes and marae have
benefitted from millions in distributions.
On the other hand, economic factors continue
to place pressure on whaanau. The cost of living
is increasing, jobs remain elusive for many, home
ownership is all but out of reach for some, and too
many of our people are forced to live in rental houses
that are cold, unhealthy and inadequate.
It does not escape me that, as Waikato, we are fortunate
to have the support of a tribal system that is geared to
supporting its own. Many New Zealanders do not enjoy
that opportunity. Yes, the pain of the past is remembered
in the good fortune that we benefit from today.
Our dream for our people is that they are successful
in all areas of their lives: committed to Kiingitanga,
fluent in te reo Maaori, strong in tikanga, healthy,
well-educated, financially secure, environmentally
conscious and socially sound.
And so we are proud that in just two decades our
own education statistics have turned the curve.
Waikato-Tainui has provided nearly 10,000 education
grants and scholarships and, today, 66 percent of our
members aged 15 and older have a formal qualification
compared to 49 percent in 1996.
We are proud that since 2007 our kaumaatua have
received more than $2 million to cover medical costs,
that since 1995 marae have received more than $40
million
*
in grants, and that today we are financing the
insurance premiums for all Raupatu marae.
We are proud that this year alone we have directly
supported more than 100 tribal members into
employment and have 11 apprenticeships and
cadetships currently underway with another two due
to come on stream.
And we are especially proud to have devised and
launched the Mokopuna Ora programme to take better
care of mokopuna either in or entering state care.
But, there is much more yet to do.
TE PUURONGO AA
TE ARATAURA
RAHUI PAPA
Waikato-Tainui has provided
nearly 10,000 education grants
and scholarships and, today,
66 percent of our members
aged 15 and older have a
formal qualification compared
to 49 percent in 1996.