Consultation pack on proposed new director appointment models for Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited and Aotearoa Fisheries Limited

We wish to thank those who were able to attend our wānanga session regarding the design of new director appointment models and processes required under the Māori Fisheries Amendment Act 2024 (MFAA) held in March in Auckland.

Thanks to the participation and feedback received, we are now able to invite Mandated Iwi Organisations (MIO), Recognised Iwi Organisations (RIO), Representative Māori Organisations (RMO) and Asset Holding Companies (AHC) to share feedback on our final consultation pack on the proposed director appointment models and processes for Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited (TOKMTL) and Aotearoa Fisheries Limited (AFL). A summary of the documents included in the pack for consultation has been provided within this article.

Click here for Consultation pack on proposed new director appointment models for Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited and Aotearoa Fisheries Limited

For those that were unable to attend the wānanga in March, and to confirm on record, we have summarised the day of the wānanga below, along with the key feedback and direction received.

Feedback at this stage is critical. The models presented reflect the accumulated feedback of nearly two years of engagement, and this final round of consultation provides iwi and representative organisations with the opportunity to provide considerations before the new processes are formally adopted and in effect as of 26 July 2026.

Please provide your feedback directly to our MFAA Programme Director, Tania Heyrick via email: tania.heyrick@teohukaimoana.nzby Tuesday 9 July 2026.

Te Ohu Kaimoana is available to discuss your feedback on the phone, via online hui, or in person if you prefer.

Summary of MFAA appointment models wānanga – Wednesday 18 March 2026

Three key matters were workshopped at the wānanga, with breakout sessions being utilised to explore concepts and obtain feedback from each table during the day(note: there were 11 tables of participants in total).

A summary of the options explored, and feedback received was:

1.     Should there be one committee or two separate committees?

Most attendees expressed a preference for two committees (8 tables) rather than one committee (3 tables).

2.     Should the committee/s recommend a shortlist of candidates or a single preferred candidate?

Most attendees expressed a preference for candidates to be shortlisted (9 tables) rather than for a single preferred candidate (2 tables).

3.     What is the membership of the committee/s?

There was minimal discussion on the proposal to retain the Te Kāwai Taumata (TKT) model (electoral colleges) for the TOKM committee. There was a divergence of views on the membership of the AFL committee.

Three options were presented at the wananga regarding membership of the AFL committee:

1.        Electoral college model (7 tables).

2.        Membership based on shareholding of electoral colleges.

3.        Membership based on shareholding of individual iwi (2 tables). 

A fourth option was suggested from the floor. It was noted that given iwi have the ultimate say by way of vote, it would be more efficient to have a small committee of experts running the appointment process. 4 tables supported this approach.

Summary of documents included for information and consultation

Executive summary

Outlining the purpose of the consultation pack, a history of the Māori Fisheries Amendment Act 2024, key design considerations, an overview of iwi engagement, important context supporting each appointment model and the membership and responsibilities of each nomination committee.

Māori Fisheries Act 2004, Schedule 3 – Iwi (listed by groups of iwi) and notional iwi populations

Schedule 3 of the Maori Fisheries Act 2004 sets out the iwi groupings, commonly referred to as ‘electoral colleges’, which cluster individual iwi together into regional groupings for the purposes of governance and representation across Māori fisheries entities.

TOKMTL Constitution – Draft Schedule 3 Nomination Committee Terms of Reference and AFL Constitution – Draft Schedule 4 Nomination Committee Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference (ToR) - included in each entity’s constitution - establish the scope of mandate and operating parameters of each nomination committee. The ToR define each committee's authority, its relationship to each respective Board, and the boundaries within which it will exercise its functions — including the discretion to determine the number of shortlisted candidates put forward for vote.

Draft Nomination Committees Charters — (TOKMTL and AFL)

The Charters provide practical guidance, covering matters such as meeting procedures, quorum requirements, member obligations, conflicts of interest, and accountability arrangements. The Charters are designed to ensure each committee operates with integrity, consistency, and transparency.

Draft Nominations Committee Appointment Policies and Procedures (TOKMTL and AFL)

These documents set out the step-by-step operational process for each director appointment, from the initial identification of a board vacancy and skills profiling, through candidate advertising, application receipt, assessment, candidate recommendation, and final voting by MIO/RIO/RMO or AHC. They provide practical guidance to ensure the processes are applied consistently and in accordance with the principles underpinning the MFAA reforms.

Thank you for your continued participation in this journey together as we work towards 26 July 2026.

Again, we ask that you please provide your feedback directly to our MFAA Programme Director, Tania Heyrick via email: tania.heyrick@teohukaimoana.nzby Tuesday 9 June 2026.