Te Punga Tiaki
Kia pai te tere waka
Mā te tika, mā te pono, me te aroha
At its May 2021 hui, the Trust Board decided to amalgamate the Commercial Advisory Board and the Audit & Risk Committee to form a new Advisory Board, named Te Punga Tiaki, reporting directly to the Trust Board.
Te Punga Tiaki has been born out of a concept that sees our iwi as a waka on a journey, with our people on board; Trustees as the direction setters and navigators; our management team and staff taking up the hoe and paddling us along – all subject to the joys and challenges that Tangaroa, Ranginui, Tāwhirimātea, and Tūmatāuenga can throw at us - tides, winds, waves, sun, rain, storms, wildlife and other waka we meet along the way. Te Punga Tiaki is the anchor of care, keeping our waka on track and holding us steady against those forces and challenges, supporting a safe and timely journey – kia pai te tere waka.
Te Punga Tiaki objective is to assure and evaluate opportunities to enhance, effective & efficient performance for Te Ātiawa o te Waka-a-Māui, and its agreed purpose is to advise the Trust Board at a governance level on:
- any business and investment opportunities that are presented to the Trust
- risks and potential risks facing the Trust
- audit, compliance, and financial reporting
- policies and controls
- any other related matters as reasonably requested by the Trust Board.
How we do this is vital, and Te Punga Tiaki guiding kīwaha is mā te tika, mā te pono, me te aroha – through doing things correctly, truthfully, and out of love.
The establishment of Te Punga Tiaki is an exciting development for our iwi that follows Trust Board and Audit and Risk Committee (as it was then) strategy hui earlier in the year. It optimizes our governance resources to balance risk and opportunity and provides clarity and strong advice for management and the Trust Board across commercial, risk, and assurance activities.
Carolyn van Leuven (Chair, Te Punga Tiaki)
Carolyn is a former commercial law firm partner, deputy chief executive of government agencies and non-partisan advisor to two Prime Ministers, now working as an independent consultant and director in Wellington and around the motu. She is committed to achieving better outcomes for people, communities, public and private enterprises through inclusive, transparent and results-focused governance. Carolyn has a strong background in a range of sectors including energy & resources, infrastructure, te Ao Māori, the border sector, arts, sports and education.
Carolyn is based in Te Awakairangi (Lower Hutt) with her husband Jim and three of their four children – the eldest has fledged the nest and lives over the hill in the Wairarapa. As well as her degrees in law and music Carolyn holds post-graduate certificates in management from Darden Business School at the University of Virginia and in English Language teaching from Trinity College London, and is an examiner for the Royal Life Saving Society.
Matt Skilton (Deputy Chair, Te Punga Tiaki)
Matt is a seasoned finance leader, having worked across the globe in large manufacturing and distribution businesses. Originally from Whanganui, Matt and his family reside in Tauranga where they are into yachting as well as having a passion for travel. Matt and his wife Kylie have two college age daughters and a dog called Jeorge who adores food. Matt is a Chartered Accountant and has a BBS (Accounting and Finance) from Massey University as well as post graduate studies in leadership. Matt is currently the Group CFO of Ballance Agri-nutrients, and is a director of their subsidiary companies. Prior to this Matt held Group general manager of Finance roles at Fletcher Building, as well as being a Divisional CFO with financial responsibility for a number of key manufacturing or distribution businesses in New Zealand and Australia including PlaceMakers, Fletcher Steel, Mico, Laminex NZ, Iplex NZ, Tradelink and Stramit. He also previously worked at Spark where he held a number of Group Head of Finance roles, including Financial Control, Head of Tax and Treasury Operations.
Dr Te Tiwha Brendon Puketapu (Member, Te Punga Tiaki)
Tiwha has a working background that has focused on Māori development and organisation. He has been a self–employed consultant for the past 13 years and has over 20 years of experience in governance and management. He has held governance roles with the New Zealand Council of Education Research, Ngā Tangata Tiaki Establishment Trust, is the Chair of the Taranaki-Whanganui Conservation Board and the Chair of the Whanganui River Māori Trust Board. He is currently a Director and the Audit & Risk Committee Chair for Ātihau Whanganui Māori Land Incorporation and Chair of Toitū Te Whenua Māori Land Trust. Tiwha brings a strength of knowledge and successful experience of iwi, hapū and whānau development and organisation in his work with private sector, public sector and non-government organisations.
Lennox Love (Member, Te Punga Tiaki)
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Lennox Love Lennox is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from Victoria University. He has a range of experience within iwi, private and public sectors in various governance and management roles and is currently an investment manager with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, focused on supporting and growing Māori businesses. Lennox was previously an Associate Director at Deloitte, Wellington, where he assisted iwi and businesses with governance, strategy, accounting, and executive management. Before this, Lennox had his own business mainly in property and accounting services. He has previous overseas experience in the UK and Ireland working in the insurance and investment banking sectors. Lennox grew up in Waikawa and wants to give back to the people by growing Te Ātiawa o te Waka-a-Māui with a balanced approach.
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Vennessa Ede (Member and Trust Board Representative, Te Punga Tiaki)
Vennessa is a registered Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) and holds a Graduate Diploma in Business Studies from Massey University and a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration (BCA) from Victoria University. She has worked as an Accountant in Marlborough and Nelson over the last 21 years including for the Marlborough District Council, Port Marlborough New Zealand and Wakatu Incorporation. Vennessa is a Managing Trustee of the Island Moutere Love Trust, dealing with property management, investment and development and whanau support.
Vennessa has been a Trustee of Te Ātiawa o te Waka-a-Māui Trust Board (the Post-Settlement Governance Entity) and its predecessor since 2006 and is currently Deputy Chair. She also holds a number of Trustee and Directorship positions with other Māori and community organisations including the Wellington Tenths Trust.
Vennessa has had a strong involvement with the commercial and economic development of the Trust through the Waitangi Claim Settlement negotiations process; and with our Marlborough Resource and Environmental Management. She is a member of Te Rōpū Manaaki, which supports our Kaitiaki ki te Taiao Team.
Vennessa grew up in Waikawa, left and then returned home with her family. The children have now grown up and left home and Vennessa and husband Mike continue to live in Waikawa.
Vennessa is the Trust Board representative on Te Punga Tiaki.
Phillip Jacques (Member, Te Punga Tiaki)
Phillip is an experienced Chief Financial Officer and Chartered Accountant. He is currently the Interim Director-Finance (CFO) at Te Pūkenga-New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology. Phillip has previously held executive leadership roles at several New Zealand public sector organisations. He established EQC’s international investment programme, including developing and implementing the fund’s approach to Responsible Investment. Phillip then successfully managed the investments of the Natural Disaster Fund for a further 10 years. Phillip holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Diplomas in Management and Accounting, and has completed the Advanced Management and Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford. Prior to retraining as an accountant Phillip worked as an industrial chemist and brewer.
Outside work, Phillip enjoys keeping fit and has represented New Zealand at two World Triathlon Championships. He was born in Waitohi and is passionate about using his skills for the benefit of the iwi.