In 2016, Ng\u0101i Tahu had $1.5b in assets, but by 2022, it had grown that to $2.28b, although that has reduced somewhat lately.<\/p>\n
Tainui Group Holdings’ Ruakura Superhub, Ng\u0101ti Wh\u0101tua \u014cr\u0101kei’s K\u014dkihi at Waterview by a M\u0101ori\/P\u0101keh\u0101 joint housing venture, and Ng\u0101i Tahu’s Shotover Jet are among the country’s iwi enterprises and projects. Image \/ Herald graphic<\/p>\n
Property is its largest asset class.<\/p>\n
Tourism investments are often higher profile, such as its 43.5% stake in Whale Watch Kaik\u014dura.<\/p>\n
The iwi has 100% of the popular tourist attraction Shotover Jet outside Queenstown.<\/p>\n
Last year, Shotover Jet celebrated 60 years, growing over those decades from what had initially been a pioneering jet boat operation.<\/p>\n
Ng\u0101i Tahu became majority shareholder in that business in 1999, taking full ownership in 2004.<\/p>\n
The Shotover Jet tourist attraction is just outside Queenstown.<\/p>\n
In 2016, its tourism arm struck a joint venture deal with Tekapo-based stargazing and observatory tour business Earth & Sky. <\/p>\n
Tours are operated from a big base at Tekapo up to the Mt John Observatory.<\/p>\n
Aoraki Mackenzie’s Dark Sky Project is a Ng\u0101i Tahu Tourism operation. <\/p>\n
In the last few weeks, Ng\u0101i Tahu Farming has been chosen<\/a> to operate the country\u2019s largest farm, the 180,000ha Molesworth Station.<\/p>\n Dairy investments are mainly around Te Whenua Hou at Eyrewell, northwest of Christchurch.<\/p>\n TDB noted how the iwi\u2019s property assets were most recently valued at $842m and comprise 38% of all investments by the iwi which has major holdings in \u014ctautahi Christchurch<\/a>.<\/p>\n Those include Addington\u2019s outdoor shopping centre Tower Junction as well as Crown and local authority leased properties valued at $136.4m.<\/p>\n Te Hononga Christchurch Civic Building and civic tenancies in \u014ctepoti Dunedin and Queenstown are also in the portfolio.<\/p>\n New housing development projects in \u014ctautahi are also high-profile, particularly around West Melton, Rangiora and Halswell lately. <\/p>\n Fishing via Sanford and a range of new investments are further examples of diversification. <\/p>\n New iwi investments include:<\/p>\n Leaft – uses plant protein to cut food production\u2019s environmental impact;Shippit – a parcel business for retailers and manufacturers;Banqer – promotes financial literacy in schools;Sharesies – an online sharemarket trading business for retail investors;Mint Innovation – recovering precious metals from e-waste.<\/p>\n \u201cOur established investments in primary industries, tourism, seafood, property, and listed equities will continue to perform, but we are now starting to enter new sectors that reflect the aspirations of Te R\u016bnanga and show strong commercial promise,\u201d chairman Warwick Tuwhare-George and CEO Todd Moyle wrote in the latest annual report.<\/p>\n In the year to June 30, 2025, the iwi made a surplus of $84m (previously $30m loss) and its debt stood at $398m (previously $384m).<\/p>\n TDB noted it distributed $69m to its members in the 2024 year: to Papatipu R\u016bnanga development, education, whai rawa, environmental programmes, kaum\u0101tua, cultural identity, disaster recovery, tribal advocacy and community moves.<\/p>\n TDB said it achieved a return on capital of 6.3% from 2016 to 2025.<\/p>\n In the 2025 financial year, it made 8.6% as farming performance improved significantly through higher cow yields, better farm prices and asset revaluations.<\/p>\n \u201cThis year\u2019s performance reflects groundwork carried out in recent years. One example is the extensive regrassing programme at Te Whenua Hou, undertaken over the past five seasons. This investment has lifted productivity, contributing to record earnings of $39.2m for Ng\u0101i Tahu Farming,\u201d the 2025 annual report noted.<\/p>\n The combined financial assets of Aotearoa\u2019s 10 biggest iwi rose from $8.2 billion to $8.5b in the latest year.<\/p>\n Phil Barry of TDB said in February that the 2025 iwi investment report noted the soft economy and tougher trading environment.<\/p>\n The report studied Ng\u0101i Tahu, Ng\u0101puhi, Ng\u0101ti Awa, Ng\u0101ti P\u0101hauwera, Ng\u0101ti Porou, Ng\u0101ti Toa, Ng\u0101ti Wh\u0101tua \u014cr\u0101kei, Raukawa, T\u016bhoe and Waikato Tainui.<\/p>\n \u00a314,750 for 80% of South Island<\/p>\n Ng\u0101i Tahu\u2019s settlement was finalised in 1997\/1998 and included a Crown apology, cultural redress, and $170m plus purchase rights for some Crown assets, including rights of first refusal<\/p>\n The Crown expressed its profound regret and apologised unreservedly for the suffering and hardship caused to the iwi. <\/p>\n Importantly, that apology confirmed the validity of the claims, borne by seven generations.<\/p>\n Between 1844 and 1864, the iwi sold about 34.5 million acres or 80% of the South Island.<\/p>\n The British Crown paid \u00a314,750 in total for a series of land purchase agreements on about half of Aotearoa\u2019s total land mass.<\/p>\n The iwi said it believed that one-tenth of each purchase would be reserved for the Ng\u0101i Tahu vendors, potentially guaranteeing a stake in the country\u2019s future. <\/p>\n But the Crown did not allocate one-tenth of the land to the iwi, nor did it pay a fair price for the land purchases, as it was subsequently found. <\/p>\n It also failed to honour promises to ensure the iwi still had access to mahinga kai, and to build schools and hospitals.<\/p>\n Following its 1998 settlement, Ng\u0101i Tahu received cultural redress, tribal redress, an apology from the Crown, acknowledgement of the role of taonga Aoraki, $170m redress and the ability to purchase property from the Crown.<\/p>\n The settlement also included a relativity mechanism that reflected the then $1b fiscal envelope.<\/p>\n Since that figure was eclipsed in 2012, Ng\u0101i Tahu has been able to request payment every five years to ensure the real value of its settlement remains at 16.1% of the total.<\/p>\n As of December 2022, Ng\u0101i Tahu had received top-up payments totalling $345 million, plus some minor additional top-ups to resolve calculation disputes with the Crown. <\/p>\n Who runs Ng\u0101i Tahu Holdings?<\/p>\n The following questions were put to an iwi spokesman to help understand the structure of the organisation.<\/p>\n What is the commercial entity of the iwi called? <\/p>\n Ng\u0101i Tahu Holdings.<\/p>\n Who runs that commercial entity for the iwi? <\/p>\n Ng\u0101i Tahu Holdings\u2019 chair is Warwick Tauwhare-George and chief executive is Todd Moyle<\/a>.<\/p>\n What does the business do?<\/p>\n It manages Ng\u0101i Tahu Investments, Ng\u0101i Tahu Farming, Ng\u0101i Tahu Property, Ng\u0101i Tahu Seafood and Ng\u0101i Tahu Tourism. <\/p>\n What is the structure?<\/p>\n Ng\u0101i Tahu Holdings is the investment company of the Ng\u0101i Tahu Charitable Trust, of which Te R\u016bnanga o Ng\u0101i Tahu is the sole trustee. <\/p>\n Ng\u0101i Tahu Holdings\u2019 mission is to grow and protect the p\u016btea (finance, sum of money) for the iwi while respecting and contributing to the mana of Ng\u0101i Tahu in all that it does.<\/p>\n What are the bosses\u2019 connections to the iwi, if they have one? <\/p>\n Warwick Tauwhare-George (Ng\u0101ti Waewae, Ng\u0101ti Wheke) is Ng\u0101i Tahu. He also has whakapapa to Waikato-Tainui and Ng\u0101ti Hikairo. <\/p>\n Todd Moyle is p\u0101keh\u0101.<\/p>\n How long have they been in the role? <\/p>\n Tauwhare-George was appointed chair on November 30, 2024.<\/p>\n Moyle was appointed chief executive in March 2024. He was chief operating officer from January 2022 and acting chief executive from April 2023.<\/p>\nMolesworth Station is 180,000ha. Photo \/ P\u0101mu<\/p>\n
Te Hononga – Christchurch Civic Building by Athfield Architect. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
The striking 14m tall pou, unveiled in 2024, is at the entrance to the Mackenzie District not far from Tekapo. Photo \/ Anne Gibson<\/p>\n
Ng\u0101i Tahu Property, with ACC Investments, developed this building in \u014ctepoti Dunedin. Photo \/ Ng\u0101i Tahu Holdings<\/p>\n
This giant 14m tall pou was unveiled in 2024 at a new visitor pull-over area. It is by Ng\u0101i Tahu artist Ross Hemera and stands near Dog Kennel Corner\/Tewera’s Corner at the entrance to the Mackenzie District, not far from Tekapo. Photo \/ Anne Gibson<\/p>\n
Warwick Tauwhare-George.<\/p>\n
Todd Moyle, chief executive of Ng\u0101i Tahu. Photo \/ Ng\u0101i Tahu Holdings<\/p>\n