Ngāti Toa recognised by Institute of Finance Professionals NZ

INFINZ Award Acceptance - Debt Deal of the Year

At an awards dinner held on Thursday 25 May, the Institute of Finance Professionals NZ announced Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira as the winner of the ‘Debt Deal of the Year’ award for our successful purchase of 40 schools and 144 hectares of whenua in May 2022.

The Debt Deal of the Year award recognised the Deferred Settlement Properties (DSP) deal that took place last year, enabling Ngāti Toa to purchase the whenua of 40 schools in our rohe.

The Chair of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira Board, Callum Katene said the DSP deal was a strategic investment to create an enduring future for Ngāti Toa, and provide future generations with a passive perpetual investment income to help to grow the mana, wellbeing and prosperity of our iwi. 

“This award is a welcome acknowledgement of Ngāti Toa’s business partners and kaimahi, for their endeavours to make this deal a reality. Ngāti Toa is on a journey, and after 200 years of difficult times things are starting to fall into place for us. The realisation of this project will provide intergenerational wealth to benefit our children and grandchildren,” Callum said.

“However, we recognise that there are many iwi around Aotearoa for whom the pieces have not yet fallen into place. We would welcome the opportunity to work with others to support those iwi, so they too can realise their dreams and aspirations.”

Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira CEO Helmut Modlik acknowledged the long term efforts of key iwi members to ensure the opportunity to purchase the whenua was available to Ngāti Toa, as well as the team and kaimahi who completed the DSP deal on behalf of the iwi.

“Most importantly, we thank those who came before us.  The Ngāti Toa Treaty Negotiations Team Te Kaha led by Tā Matiu Rei, who successfully challenged the Crown on their deliberate historical breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi which saw Ngāti Toa significantly stripped of land, resources and authority in both the North and South Islands,” Helmut said.

"Had it not been for the leadership, tenacity and fortitude of our original claimants, Tā Matiu and Te Kaha, we would not have been in the position to progress this deal. We continue to benefit from and grow the fruits of their commitment to our iwi.”

“The Ngāti Toa Rangatira Claims Settlement Act 2014 afforded us the opportunity to purchase the land of 68 public schools in Te Whanganui a Tara and Te Tauihu in recognition of Crown breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the illegal confiscation of Ngāti Toa land.”

“We would like to thank our lead arrangers Armillary Private Capital and JP Morgan and Craigs Investment Partners, our investors and senior lenders.  We also acknowledge the hard mahi put in by our team and kaimahi here at Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira – me i kore ake koutou ka whai hua tēnei kaupapa. “

 Hurō! E te iwi, whakahīhī koutou, otirā tatou katoa i tēnei tohu. 

The primary purpose of the Institute of Finance Professionals Awards is to raise standards through recognising and rewarding excellence and innovation. A key criteria is to showcase how the financial sector has added value.

Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira were selected among four other finalists in the category.