Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust is proudly co-governed and honours te tiriti.
Join us in welcoming our two new trustees - James Whetu (Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Raukawa) and Stu Kneebone.
James (Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Raukawa) sits on the Raukawa Settlement Trust Board and is the director of Whetū Consultancy Group – an environmental planning and policy consultancy specialising in Māori and indigenous partnerships.
Working with Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust, James supports the kaitiakitanga exercised by his iwi, hapū and whānau.
"Kō Ruapeka tōku marae, based in the Mamaku ranges, is somewhere I haven’t gone back to as an adult. This is my opportunity to be give back to our taonga tuku iho, ko te pae maunga Kaimai-Mamaku”, he says.
Stu represents the Waipa King Country on the Waikato Regional Council and is currently the Crown appointed Co Chair of the Waikato River Authority, bringing decades of governance experience to our board.
A fourth generation Waikato farmer with a 110 hectare dry stock farm, Stu is passionate about looking after our unique native biodiversity.
"So much of the advantages and benefits of living in Aotearoa are dependent on the health and wellbeing of our natural environment. We owe it to ourselves and our grandchildren to make a real effort to restore and protect the Kaimai Mamaku forest as a taonga for all," he says.
(L-R) Stu Kneebone (Community Trustee Waikato), Co-chair Josie Anderson (Māori Trustee Hauraki), Co-chair Norm Bruning and James Whetu (Māori Trustee Ngāti Hinerangi/Ngāti Hauā/Ngāti Raukawa).
