Hokotehi

James Matenga

Na mihi nui te hunau o Moriori, tena koutou katoa. Ko James Matenga toku ingoa.

My governance experience comes from been a trustee for over 18 years to mainly 2 trusts, but not without mentioning my short stints on Marae and land trust, such as Rangiwaho marae (1 year), Tawapata South 3A4 (2 years). The bulk of my experience having being on Te Koau A trust (14 years) Awarua O Hinemanu trust (6 years) and lately on the Hokotehi Moriori Trust (1 year) of which I have gained a lot of experience dealing in current issues like taonga protection, access, policy creation and really, stumping our feet on the ground so that we are noticed. This has opened up doors to many Maori networks as well as central, local government.

Since completing the Certificate in Maori Business in 2002, I have virtually thrown myself into exercising what I have been taught from Victoria University. At the moment, I am at Victoria University having completed my Graduate Diploma of Commerce last year, and now into my Bachelor of Commerce and Admin, majoring in Maori Business / Management and a minor in Human Resource management. I will finish this next year 2012. My plan in the future is to continue on to the Honors Degree which I have started also and finishing with my Masters. A goal I am determined to complete.

The areas that I have covered at Victoria University so far are Maori trust boards, Intellectual Property Rights, Advance Maori Resource Management, Treaty Settlement Process, Maori Business, Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management. I know this will benefit the Trust and our owners / stake holders overall. I am an Alumni member of Maori Business faculty of Victoria University, Wellington.

Me Rongo