Hui-ā-Tau 2025 – Ngāi Tahu Holdings Panel Discussion

During the Ngāi Tahu Holdings panel discussion, whānau were invited to text in questions. Below are the questions received and our responses:

1.    Sanford is asking for voluntary redundancies in Bluff. Have you engaged with the whānau or with Awarua in case whānau are impacted?

A: Sanford is a listed entity that Ngāi Tahu Holdings owns shares in. It has a separate board and management team, so we don’t have any control over operational decisions such as this. Our expectation is that Sanford will be undertaking engagement with its kaimahi and providing appropriate support to impacted whanau.  

2.    We invest a lot in shares, but why not create a partnership with someone like Ryman Healthcare or similar to create a Ngāi Tahu retirement village?

A: This question was answered during the open forum. You can watch the recording at 2:46.23 to see the full discussion. In short, there are currently no plans to invest in or create a Ngāi Tahu retirement village.

3.    The Crown has announced a $42m biodiscovery platform to explore economic development of taonga species. What is the Ngāi Tahu position on this Kaupapa?

A: There is no formal iwi position on this at this stage.

4.    Does Ngāi Tahu Seafood bottom trawl?

A: Ngāi Tahu Seafood uses bottom trawling methods to catch scampi. Although we did not fish tio (oysters) this season, we use dredging methods when harvesting.

Currently there are no commercially viable alternatives for catching scampi and tio. The wider industry is collaborating on research into new technologies such as Precision Seafood Harvesting, which would result in more precise catches.

5.    Kā mihi atu I te hoko I a Mint. How many of their projects are in our takiwā?

A: Mint Renewables is currently exploring several promising opportunities in Niu Tīreni, including on Ngāi Tahu whenua, but has no committed investments or projects as yet. Mint Aotearoa is just entering the New Zealand market and will develop a pipeline of opportunities for investment. We look forward to exploring opportunities with Papatipu Rūnaka and other iwi and will share updates as they develop.

6.    Has Holdings considered approaching Māori land owners with whenua that is not feasible for papakāika to create an income for both owners and Ngāi Tahu. With energy plans or even forestry?

A: Ngāi Tahu Holdings has extensive experience across a range of land-use sectors, including forestry, farming, property development, and more recently renewable energy. We are open to exploring opportunities with Māori landowners to assess whether there is potential to partner in ways that create sustainable returns for both parties.

7.    What was the total cost of Oha Honey from Watson and Sons through to the wind down?

A: Ngāi Tahu Holdings reported consecutive losses from Oha in the years prior to its wind down. We have been committed to transparency throughout this process, and details of the wind-down costs are available in our annual reports. View them here: Ngāi Tahu Annual Reports | Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

Since ceasing operations in 2023, we have worked hard to recover value from Oha’s assets, including the sale of inventory, operating assets, and land in the North Island.

This outcome is disappointing, and we take it seriously. A full post-investment review has been completed, and we have strengthened our investment processes to ensure lessons learned are applied going forward.

8.    Following on from Te Maire and Fiona’s kōrero, what political strategies are Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Ngāi Tahu Holdings and the rūnanga considering or implementing to strengthen ownership of these entities and uphold our rangatiratanga as per Te Pūnuiotoka?

A: Ngāi Tahu Holdings takes an intergenerational view to investment. The tribes 25-year vision, Mō Kā Uri, sets the pathway for longer-term thinking and will help us map out future investments and potential acquisitions.