Mahi Ngātahi

Over the last 12 months the Recreation Aotearoa Board has undertaken a review of our Constitution and governance approaches.

 

Called Mahi Ngātahi – working together as one – the review has been supported by a working group made up of Board Members, members of our Māori Navigational Group Te Kāhui Kura Māori, a Regional Advisory Group member and Recreation Aotearoa staff. Gibson Sheat Lawyers have provided legal advice and drafting assistance.

The review has explored what changes could be made to further enact our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and working together with Māori – mahi ngātahi. We have also looked at what changes are required to comply with the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022, and where we might streamline and simply the existing document.

At our November 2024 AGM we will be asking members to vote on the proposed changes. 

Information and resources

Download a copy of the updated Recreation Aotearoa Constitution

Download a Summary of Proposed Changes 

Watch the Mahi Ngātahi Governance Review Q&A session held online on 22 August 2024. 

Your voice matters

We want to hear from members. If you have question, concerns, feedback or would like to understand more about what’s proposed, please get in touch with our Chief Executive, Sarah Murray via email: sarahm@nzrecreation.org.nz


Tuia ki runga, tuia ki raro, tuia ēra tikanga ki ēnei tikanga, tuia te ngākau ki te whenua, ki te tāngata, kia tipu, kia manahua, kia ora tātou.

Unite above, below, unite those customs, with these customs, unite our hearts to the land, to the people, so they may grow, so they may flourish, forward into existence, thank you all.

Mahi Ngātahi Governance review - background and timeline

  • March 2023 – Te Hau Takitahi Board Co-Chairs Trial begins.
  • February 2024 – Te Hau Takitahi review; Mahi Ngātahi Member Survey.
  • March 2024 – Working Group wānanga; recommendations endorsed by Board.
  • April – June 2024 – Legal review.
  • July 2024 – Proposed amendments approved by Board, legal review and drafting.
  • August – October 2024 – Member consultation and feedback.
  • November 2024 – Member vote at Recreation Aotearoa AGM.

Mahi Ngātahi Working Group Members

  • Recreation Aotearoa Board: Bobbi Clark-Heu, Watene Hema 
  • Te Kāhui Kura Māori: Tracey Lee Repia; Johnnie Freeland 
  • Regional Advisory Group: Katie Gough 
  • Generate / Recreation Aotearoa Aspiring Director: Brittany White 
  • Recreation Aotearoa staff: Sarah Murray, Kuruho Wereta, Olivia Silverwood.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are you proposing any changes to the number of Board Members or the mix of elected and appointed board members?

We are not proposing any changes to the size of the Board or the mix of elected (four) and appointed Board Members (three). We are also not proposing any changes to our non-voting Aspiring Director role.  

What does this mean for Regional Committees, the Regional Advisory Group and the Outdoor Recreation Subcommittee?

There are no changes proposed to the existing regional committee structure, the Regional Advisory Group or Outdoor Recreation Subcommittee.

Who is Te Kāhui Kura Māori, and why are they being added to the Constitution?

Te Kāhui Kura Māori is the Recreation Aotearoa Māori Navigational Group. The group is made up of Māori working in the wider recreation sector. It was formed in 2019 to support the Board to implement our Strategic Plan Te Whai Oranga and meets with the Board as required and at least annually.

We are proposing to formally recognise the role of Te Kāhui Kura Māori in the Constitution and put in place a joint agreement (kawengāta) between the Board and Te Kāhui. 

What is the Board Appointments Panel, and what changes are you proposing here?

The Board Appointments Panel is an independent panel made up of the Recreation Aotearoa Board Chair, a representative of the Regional Advisory Group and an independent person with relevant experience. The role of the panel is to select our three Appointed Board Members.

We are proposing increasing the size of the panel from three members to four members to include a representative from Te Kāhui Kura Māori.

The Board Appointments Panel also currently has a role in ‘recommending’ or ‘endorsing’ candidates seeking election by the Membership. The panel has chosen not to carry out this component of their role in recent elections, instead allowing members to assess candidates on their merits. 

We are proposing removing the Board Appointments Panel’s role in the election process. We are not proposing any other changes to the election process. 

Do the proposed changes mean all Board Members need to have a high level of Māori cultural competency?

The Board Appointments Panel is required to consider ‘relevant factors’ when determining appointed Board Members (clause 13.8). We are proposing amending this clause to require the panel to consider both the merits of each individual candidate (as per the current constitution), and the overall mix and balance of the Board as a whole. This allows us to think holistically about the skills and attributes we require across all Board Members, including ensuring that the board as a whole has sufficient cultural capability. 

What is Te Hau Takitahi Board Co-Chairs Trial?

Every year, the Board elects a Chair and Deputy Chair for the next 12 months. In 2023, the Board decided to trial a Co-Chair model, whereby Board leadership was shared by a tangata whenua (Māori) and tangata Tiriti (non-Māori) Board Member. We call this Te Hau Takitahi, meaning the interconnectedness of the two winds. The purpose of the trial was to test a new way of working which brought together Māori and non-Māori approaches to leadership and governance.

The Board reviewed the outcomes of the trial in February 2024. They decided to continue with the trial in 2024 and recommend that the approach be provided for in the Constitution.

What is He Whakaputunga, and why is it important to acknowledge?

He Whakaputunga or the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes or New Zealand, preceded Te Tiriti o Waitangi and laid the foundation for Māori to partner with the British Crown.

We are proposing acknowledging He Whakaputunga and Te Titiriti o Waitangi as the founding documents of New Zealand. This builds on our existing commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi which was added to the constitution at our 2019 AGM.

The proposed amendments introduce several Māori concepts. How do I find out what they mean?

A glossary of terms is included in the definitions and interpretations section of the constitution.

What changes have been made to the Incorporated Societies Act and why does this trigger a review?

The Incorporated Societies Act 2022 replaces a 1908 version of the Act. The new Act has modernised the rules relating to Incorporated Societies and brought them in line with modern governance best practice.
All Incorporated Societies are required to review their Constitution’s under the new Act and re-register by April 2026.

For more information see: Sport NZ - Incorporated Societies Act 2022 and Regulations.