Origins & Mandate
In June 2008 the CNI Iwi Collective signed the largest Treaty settlement in New Zealand history.
From the beginning we were pioneers. The Collective was not even a legal entity, but a way for the Katoa to negotiate in our own way, on our own terms. Our Economic Development Strategy of 2008 set out an agreed set of collective principles, which were to:
- develop trust-based strategic partnerships
- create world-class commercial enterprises
- overcome fragmentation and use collective scale
- invest for long-term value, not a short-term fix
- protect and safeguard the Taonga upon which development depends
- bridge the gap between traditional leaders and the commercial world
- generate income for social, cultural and economic development.
In August 2008 CNI Iwi Discovery was launched to explore the best ways to make use of our settlement assets, in light of the above principles. In January 2009 the ‘E Kiwi’ report was delivered. In it, the CNI Discovery team proposed pursuing three initial strategies in the areas of Geothermal Energy, Carbon Farming and Forestry. These opportunities were big — much bigger than anyone had imagined. It rapidly became clear that we needed a vehicle that was up to the task of developing them. And so in 2009 Tukia Group was founded by the members of the Collective, resulting in equal ownership by Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Raukawa, Ngāti Manawa, Ngāti Whare and Ngāti Rangitihi.