Waipareira Trust
1. Business / Trading Name: Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust – commonly known as the Waipareira Trust, or Whānau Waipareira, an urban Māori community trust.
2. Company Number: 254356 (registered under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957).
3. NZBN: 9429042848837 (New Zealand Business Number).
4. Entity Type: Incorporated Charitable Trust (registered charity). The Trust is a not-for-profit organization governed by a trust deed and trustees.
5. Business Classification: Multi-sector Māori social services provider. The Trust delivers charitable services in social support, health care, education, housing, and advocacy. (ANZSIC code not explicitly listed; operates as a community services charity.)
6. Industry Category: Community and Social Development / Indigenous Welfare – an Urban Māori Authority providing integrated social, health, and education services to Māori whānau. Its activities span social services, health, housing, education/training, community development, and advocacy.
7. Year Founded: 1984. Te Whānau o Waipareira was formally incorporated as a charitable trust on 21 August 1984, when 20 kaumātua (elders) signed the trust’s incorporation document. (Its origins trace back to Māori community initiatives in West Auckland from the 1960s–70s, culminating in the 1984 establishment.)
8. Addresses:
• Registered Office / Street Address: Corner of Edmonton Road and Great North Road, Henderson, Auckland (often given as 6–8 Pioneer Street, Henderson, Auckland 0612, which is the location of its Whānau Centre headquarters).
• Postal Address: PO Box 21081, Henderson, Auckland 0650, New Zealand.
(The Trust’s principal base is in West Auckland’s Henderson community.)
9. Website URL:
http://www.waipareira.com
.
10. LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/te-whanau-o-waipareira/
11. Company Hub NZ URL: N/A. (The Trust’s NZBN profile can be found on business directory sites. For example, BizDb and BusinessCheck list its registration details. A “Company Hub” listing exists for subsidiaries and shows the Trust as 100% shareholder, but an official CompanyHub profile for the Trust itself is not publicly accessible.)
12. NZ Companies Office URL: Charitable Trust Register – Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust. (The Trust is registered with the Companies Office under the Charitable Trusts Act. It can be found via the Companies Office register using its number 254356 and NZBN. For instance, business databases note it was registered on 24 Aug 1984 and is status “Registered”. The official Companies Office record is accessible through the Charitable Trusts register search.)
13. Social Media URLs:
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/waiwhanau (Waipareira Trust official Facebook page).
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waipareira (Instagram handle @waipareira).
(These are linked on the Trust’s website. The Trust uses these platforms for community updates and campaigns. The Trust does not appear to have an active corporate LinkedIn or YouTube channel.)
14. Ultimate Holding Company: Not applicable. Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust is a standalone charitable trust with no parent company – it is the top entity. In fact, the Trust itself serves as the holding entity for a group of subsidiaries. (The Trust wholly owns several companies; e.g. it is listed as 100% shareholder of Waipareira Group Ltd and Waipareira Investments Ltd. There is no higher holding company above the Trust.)
15. Key Shareholders: None (charitable trust). As a trust, it has no shareholders – ownership is held in trust for the community (beneficiaries are West Auckland Māori whānau). Governance is by trustees rather than shares. (The Trust is the sole shareholder of its subsidiary companies. For example, it owns 100% (500 shares) of Waipareira Investments Ltd and others. But within the Trust itself, the concept of shareholders doesn’t apply – community members (whānau) elect the board to represent their interests.)
16. Leadership:
– John Tamihere – Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Waipareira Trust. A former Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament, Tamihere has led Waipareira for multiple tenures (initially in the 1990s under founding chair Dame June Mariu, and again from 2007 to present). He is the public face of the Trust’s strategy and advocacy.
– Awerangi Tamihere – Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Waipareira Trust (and of its related Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency). She is John Tamihere’s wife and a seasoned public sector professional, overseeing operations and innovation.
– Board of Trustees: The Trust is governed by an elected board. Raymond (Ray) Hall is the current Board Chair (since the 2010s), re-elected in 2024. Other board members (trustees) include Rocky Tahuri, Merepaea Te Uira-Dunn, Jason Paahi (elected 2024), and others representing the community. The board is elected by the Trust’s whānau members at Annual General Meetings (e.g. at Hoani Waititi Marae).
– Founding Leadership: Dame Whina Cooper and local Māori leaders inspired the Trust’s creation; Dame June Mariu was the founding Chairperson in the 1980s–90s, mentoring the first generation of Waipareira leadership.
– Other Executives: The Trust’s wider leadership team has included a Chief Financial Officer and heads of various service units (health, social services, etc.), though specific names are not widely public. (In past years Reg Ratahi served as CEO in the early 2000s and Ricky Houghton as a long-time treasurer/trustee ; see “Past Employees.”)
17. Staff: Approximately 200 full-time staff as of 2024. Waipareira Trust has grown into one of New Zealand’s largest non-government social service employers. Its staff include social workers, health professionals (doctors, nurses at its clinics), educators, counselors, researchers (Wai-Atamai research unit), and support personnel. The Trust’s workforce is largely Māori, reflecting its kaupapa, and many staff are from the local community. (The NZ Herald reports Waipareira “employs over 200 people in West Auckland”, making it a significant community employer.) The Trust emphasizes kaupapa Māori approaches, so staff often have cultural competency as well as professional qualifications.
18. Staff that have held previous government roles: The Trust’s leadership features several figures with government backgrounds, facilitating a strong public-sector network:
– John Tamihere – Former Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister. He served as a Labour MP (1999–2005) and held ministerial portfolios (Small Business, Youth Affairs, etc.), bringing political experience and connections. Currently he is also President of Te Pāti Māori (the Māori Party). His time in central government and ongoing political roles blur the lines between Trust business and politics.
– Awerangi Tamihere – Former senior public servant. She held roles in central agencies: a policy manager at the Ministry of Health and in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) focusing on health reforms. She also was a government-appointed board member of the Māori Health Authority (Te Aka Whai Ora) until 2023. Her public sector insight is leveraged in Waipareira’s strategy and in running Whānau Ora programs.
– Other Examples: Several Waipareira staff or board members have sat on government advisory groups or boards. For instance, Awerangi Tamihere co-chairs a Regional Skills Leadership Group (MBIE-appointed) and Deputy Chairs a Māori education fund (Te Pūtea Whakatupu). Board Chair Ray Hall has worked closely with local government on Māori outcomes (e.g. in Waitākere City era). Ricky Houghton, a past trustee/treasurer, served on various government working groups and led Northland’s He Korowai Trust (another social agency) for decades, interfacing with ministries. The Trust’s extended network (e.g. through the National Urban Māori Authority) includes figures like Hon. Willie Jackson (a Minister in Government and former head of Manukau Urban Māori Authority) – while not a Waipareira staffer, he is an ally whose career bridged community leadership and government.
(These connections illustrate a “revolving door” between Waipareira and government, with knowledge and influence flowing both ways.)
19. Past Employees: Over its 40-year history, Waipareira Trust has been led and staffed by a number of notable individuals:
– Dame June Mariu: Founding Chair (1984–1990s), a respected Māori leader who guided the Trust’s early years. A former Māori Women’s Welfare League president, she set the vision of uplifting urban Māori whānau.
– John Tamihere: He first served as CEO in the early 1990s, taking the Trust “from nothing to an $8 million a year multi-faceted provider” by 1999. He left to enter Parliament (1999) and later returned as CEO in 2007, continuing to present.
– Reg Ratahi: Chief Executive in the early 2000s (while Tamihere was in Parliament). Ratahi was CEO during a turbulent period around 2003–2004 and later went on to other community roles.
– Eynon (Pat) Delamere: Board Chairman in the early 2000s. He was an elected trustee who chaired the Trust 2002–2004, but resigned amid internal conflict in 2004.
– Ricky Houghton: Long-time Treasurer/Trustee (served ~1980s–2000s). A prominent “urban Māori” advocate, he was a Waipareira board member for two decades. Houghton later founded He Korowai Trust in Kaitaia. His financial acumen and community reach were assets, though in 2004 his brother Barney was involved in board disputes.
– Whaea Taini Molyneux and others:** The Trust’s early team included community stalwarts like Taini Molyneux and Tui Tūrei, who ran social programs. Jack Wihongi (Ngāpuhi kaumātua) was a founding trustee and even co-claimant in the Trust’s Waitangi Tribunal case. Many founding staff were West Auckland “community workers” who transitioned into professional roles as the Trust grew.
– Past Health Directors & Managers: e.g. Dr. Colin Tukuitonga (who briefly led a Waipareira health initiative before a notable career in public health) and Merepeka Raukawa-Tait (who was CEO of the affiliated Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency 2015–2018). (Raukawa-Tait, famous for prior roles at Women’s Refuge, brought governance experience to Waipareira’s Whānau Ora arm.)
– Radio Hosts/Personalities: In the mid-2000s, after leaving politics, John Tamihere hosted a talk radio show; while not a “Waipareira job,” his media presence kept the Trust in the public conversation. (He partnered on radio with Willie Jackson – again illustrating overlapping networks).
– Community Alumni: A number of former Waipareira staff went on to public service or politics. For example, Shane Taurima (former TVNZ journalist) managed Waipareira’s communications for a period and later stood for Māori Party; Awerangi (Phyllis) Dalton worked in Waipareira’s early education programs and later in government education roles.
(These past leaders and employees helped shape Waipareira’s direction and often maintain influence in broader Māori development sectors.)
20. Clients: Primary clients/beneficiaries are Māori whānau (families) in West Auckland. The Trust directly serves the community – especially urban Māori individuals and families in need of support. Its beneficiaries include children and youth, kaumātua (elders), families, and Māori of all iwi living in the urban area. In practical terms, thousands of local people use Waipareira’s services each year, from healthcare (through its clinic and programs) to education (early childhood centers, alternative education for youth) to social services (Whānau Ora navigators, budgeting help, etc.). The Trust’s kaupapa is to treat these service users as “whānau members.”
Government agencies as clients/funders: In another sense, various government departments are “clients” in that Waipareira contracts to deliver outcomes on their behalf. The Trust has significant service contracts with government ministries – effectively the Crown pays Waipareira to provide services to the public. For example:
• The Ministry of Health/Te Whatu Ora (district health board) partners with Waipareira for community clinics and vaccination programs.
• The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children) fund Waipareira to run welfare, youth, and family support initiatives (e.g. parenting programs, family violence prevention, foster care placements). In 2022 Waipareira even signed a groundbreaking agreement with Oranga Tamariki to assume responsibility for Māori children in state care in West Auckland.
• Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development) contracted Waipareira’s subsidiary as the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency for the North Island, distributing government Whānau Ora funds to providers (2014–2024, see below).
• Ministry of Education funds Waipareira’s early childhood education centres and alternative education unit for at-risk teens.
• Local Government (Auckland Council) occasionally works with Waipareira on community projects or housing initiatives (e.g. an Auckland Council agency collaborated on kaumātua housing – see “Affiliations”).
Private clients: The Trust also engages with some private or corporate clients on consultancy (e.g. providing cultural training or research via its Wai-Atamai research unit) but this is a minor aspect. The bulk of its “clients” are public-sector and community.
21. Industries/Sectors represented: Waipareira Trust straddles multiple sectors, primarily:
• Social Services & Community Development: It is foremost a social service provider (family support, welfare advocacy, justice reintegration). It represents the interests of urban Māori in social policy.
• Health Sector (Māori Health): Through Wai Health clinic and health programs, it’s part of the primary health and public health sector, focusing on Māori health outcomes (e.g. vaccination drives, mental health support).
• Education Sector: Operates kōhanga reo (Māori language preschool) and alternative education – engaging in indigenous education initiatives.
• Housing & Urban Development: Active in community housing (advocating for social housing, partnering in housing projects for whānau), and has campaigned on housing policy affecting Māori.
• Indigenous Advocacy: As an Urban Māori Authority, Waipareira represents “urban Māori” – Māori who live away from traditional tribal areas – in national conversations. It helped establish the National Urban Māori Authority (NUMA) to collectively represent urban Māori interests in policy.
• Whānau Ora & Welfare Reform: The Trust is a flagship of the Whānau Ora approach (holistic family-centric services). It has been intimately involved in this cross-sector initiative that spans health, education, and welfare.
• Technology and Data: Via its tech subsidiary Whānau Tahi Ltd, it engages in the IT sector (developing software for case management and outcomes tracking in social services).
In summary, Waipareira’s work touches the community/social development sector, the public health sector, Māori affairs, and the broader non-profit/charitable sector. It is often cited as a key player in Māori social enterprise.
22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: Waipareira Trust has a record of active engagement in public policy processes and community initiatives, many of which are on public record:
• Waitangi Tribunal Claim (Wai 414): In 1998, the Trust took a claim to the Waitangi Tribunal arguing the Crown’s funding agencies failed to properly consult or support urban Māori trusts. The Te Whānau o Waipareira Tribunal Report 1998 was a landmark, recognizing that an urban Māori trust could be considered a Treaty partner for consultation purposes. This was a major public legal engagement, and the Tribunal’s findings (266-page report) are published and part of NZ law discourse.
• Parliamentary Submissions & Select Committees: The Trust has made submissions on legislation affecting Māori social welfare. For example, Waipareira leaders gave input on the Oranga Tamariki Act reforms and Whānau Ora funding in parliamentary forums (notably, John Tamihere often speaks publicly or appears in inquiries as an advocate for policy change). In 2018, a Government-commissioned Ministerial Inquiry (instigated by Winston Peters) examined Waipareira’s financial conduct; Tamihere noted “Winston Peters pulled a ministerial inquiry on us in 2018 which we passed with glowing colours” – the results of that inquiry (which cleared the Trust) were made public.
• Official Information Act (OIA) Disclosures: As a recipient of government funds, Waipareira is sometimes mentioned in OIA releases. For instance, MSD’s released contract data shows payments to the Trust, and recent Charities Services investigation reports have become public through media (e.g. the Charities Registration Board’s intention to deregister Waipareira in 2024 was disclosed in the Trust’s own financial statements filed on the Charities Register).
• Local Government and Community Meetings: Waipareira regularly engages with Auckland Council and local boards on Māori community issues – these meetings (such as submissions to the Auckland Plan or Panuku Development consultations) are on public record. In 2023, for example, Waipareira was involved in public consultation around a council housing development (Panuku vs. Waipareira’s housing arm, see RNZ 2025). The Trust’s AGM minutes (held at Hoani Waititi Marae) are public to members and sometimes covered by media when significant (e.g. 2024 AGM election results announced new board members, published on Waipareira’s website).
• Public Advocacy Campaigns: The Trust openly leads campaigns like “Proud to be Māori” (2020 media campaign celebrating Māori identity) and “Fight for your Whakapapa” (2020–21 COVID-19 Māori vaccination drive). These campaigns involve public messaging and engagement with government messaging; Waipareira’s involvement (sometimes critiquing government efforts and launching its own) was reported in news outlets. For example, Waipareira publicly called on the Government to improve after-hours healthcare in 2018, and ran one of the country’s first community vaccination hubs in partnership with Waitematā DHB in 2021 – both widely covered in press releases and news.
• Litigation and Legal Challenges: When necessary, Waipareira has engaged in legal action, which becomes public record. Notably, it has gone to court over funding disputes (e.g. a legal challenge in the early 1990s to be included in iwi fisheries settlements, and a 2010s court case over a failed joint property venture – see “Controversies”). In 2024, the Trust indicated it would challenge any deregistration decision in court, a stance noted in media.
• Public Sector Partnerships: The Trust’s formal partnerships, like the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding with Oranga Tamariki (to work together on Māori child welfare), were publicly announced and praised as a new model (this engagement was disclosed via press release and media articles). Similarly, Waipareira’s role as the North Island Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency was established via a publicly tendered contract and has been subject to Parliamentary scrutiny (through Te Puni Kōkiri oversight and Auditor-General reports).
In essence, Waipareira Trust has not shied from the public eye – it frequently interfaces with government through formal channels (Tribunal claims, submissions, contracts) and through media (press releases, open letters). However, as noted later, some political activities were not transparently disclosed until investigations brought them to light (see “Political Donations” and “Controversies”).
23. Affiliations: Waipareira Trust is deeply networked in both Māori and broader civil society, with numerous affiliations and alliances:
• National Urban Māori Authority (NUMA): Waipareira is a founding member of NUMA, a collective of Urban Māori organizations (including the Manukau Urban Māori Authority and others) formed to advocate jointly. John Tamihere and Willie Jackson co-established NUMA in the early 2000s. Through NUMA, Waipareira allies with similar urban Māori trusts nationwide on common issues (e.g. broadcasting rights, social policy funding).
• Te Whānau O Waipareira Group: Internally, the Trust leads a group of affiliated entities (some are subsidiaries, some stand-alone trusts). These include: Wai-Health Ltd (health services arm), Waiora Healthcare Trust (possibly related to health clinics), Wai-Tech Ltd (training and employment arm), Whānau Tahi Ltd (a tech company for Whānau Ora data solutions), Waipareira Investments Ltd (investment and asset holding vehicle), and Te Pou Matakana (Tuararo) Ltd (the corporate entity that acted as the North Island Whānau Ora commissioning agency). All these form the Waipareira “family” and share governance overlaps. For instance, Whānau Tahi’s board includes Waipareira executives, and its profits feed back to the Trust.
• Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency: From 2014 to 2024, Waipareira (via Te Pou Matakana) was the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency for the North Island, affiliated with the Whānau Ora policy initiative. This role effectively made Waipareira an arm of the Whānau Ora ecosystem, partnering with the Māori Party (which championed Whānau Ora) and collaborating with other Māori providers who received funding through the Commissioning Agency. Tamihere as CEO and also now Māori Party President exemplified this affiliation.
• Hoani Waititi Marae: The Trust has strong ties to Hoani Waititi Marae in West Auckland – the marae is historically the focal point from which the Trust emerged (opened 1980). Many Trust events (AGMs, community hui) are held at Hoani Waititi Marae, and the marae committee and Trust work in tandem on community programs. Several Waipareira board members over the years have been marae trustees and vice versa.
• Hāpai Te Hauora: Waipareira helped establish Hāpai Te Hauora, the National Māori Public Health provider, in partnership with other Urban Māori groups and iwi. (Hāpai Te Hauora delivers health promotion programs and has a contract from the Ministry of Health for tobacco control, etc.) Waipareira remains closely affiliated, sharing the goal of Māori health advancement.
• Social Value Aotearoa: Waipareira is a founding member of Social Value Aotearoa, a network promoting social impact measurement (the Trust’s research unit Wai-Atamai is involved). This connects Waipareira with academics, NGOs, and some government agencies focused on outcomes-based practice.
• Te Pae Herenga o Tāmaki: Listed as a resource on Waipareira’s site, this appears to be an Auckland Māori alliance or forum (possibly related to urban marae or Māori providers). Waipareira is likely a participant, collaborating with other Auckland Māori entities to coordinate efforts.
• Te Pāti Māori (Māori Party): While not an official organizational affiliation (the Trust is technically apolitical as a charity), John Tamihere’s presidency of the Māori Party and use of Trust events/resources in support of the party create a de facto affiliation. The Trust hosted Te Pāti Māori’s campaign launch in 2023 and has provided support; many view Waipareira as aligned with the Māori Party’s kaupapa in recent years. (In contrast, historically Tamihere was with Labour; the Trust itself tries to position as working with whoever in government, but practically there’s a close link with Māori Party leadership now.)
• Local and Regional Bodies: Waipareira is active in the Whānau Ora Partnership Group (a cross-government/Māori leaders panel) through Tamihere. It also interacts with the Auckland Māori Statutory Board and Tamaki Makaurau Urban Māori Authorities on city-level issues. Regionally, it partnered with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua (the iwi authority) on certain projects like the Urban Māori housing initiative in West Auckland.
• Community and Corporate Partnerships: The Trust engages in collaborations with various NGOs and occasionally corporates. For example, it has worked with Manurewa Marae and other marae on health outreach (forming a network during COVID response). It partnered with the New Zealand Warriors (NRL rugby league team) to sponsor community sports days. On the corporate side, Waipareira received sponsorship from local businesses for its events (e.g. support from The Warehouse Group for community drives, and collaboration with tech firms for its digital platform). These partnerships are often one-off or project-based.
Overall, Waipareira’s affiliations reflect its role as a hub in a network of Māori organizations. It maintains close relationships with marae, urban Māori authorities, national Māori bodies, and government initiatives – leveraging these to amplify its influence and resources.
24. Sponsorships / Collaborations: The Trust has initiated and supported numerous community projects, often in collaboration with others, and has sponsored or been sponsored in various ventures:
• Sports and Cultural Sponsorships: Waipareira has a proud history in sports – it founded its own Rugby League tournament for urban Māori youth in the 1990s. It famously backed the bid to include a Māori rugby league team in the 1998 Rugby League World Cup (sending representatives to lobby in the UK). It also sponsored the Aotearoa Māori Rugby League in domestic competitions. The Trust has run annual “Whānau Sports Days” in West Auckland, often with corporate or council co-sponsors providing prizes and resources.
• Community Events Collaboration: In July 2023, Waipareira Trust co-organized a large Matariki (Māori New Year) festival concert in West Auckland which doubled as a political rally. This free public concert was a collaboration between the Trust, Te Pāti Māori, and local Māori artists – blending cultural celebration with advocacy. In 2019, Waipareira partnered with Ngāti Whātua’s health unit to host a major Whānau Ora conference in Auckland, bringing together providers and ministers (sponsorship by Te Puni Kōkiri and others was noted).
• COVID-19 Pandemic Response: Waipareira spearheaded Māori-focused COVID responses, collaborating with government and community groups. It launched the “Fight For Your Whakapapa” vaccination campaign (2020–21) mobilizing Māori leaders, in partnership with other North Island urban providers. It ran a mass vaccination centre in West Auckland in conjunction with the Waitematā District Health Board – effectively a collaboration where the DHB provided vaccines and funding, and Waipareira provided venue, staff, and community reach. It also worked with Manurewa Marae and other marae on outreach testing and vaccination, sharing data and logistics (though this collaboration later came under inquiry, see “Controversies”).
• Educational Collaborations: The Trust’s education arm worked with the Ministry of Education and local schools on the Te Kotahitanga programme (to support Māori students), and with AUT University on research for improving Māori educational outcomes. It sponsors local Kapa Haka (Māori performing arts) competitions in West Auckland schools.
• Corporate and Philanthropic Support: While Waipareira largely relies on government contracts, it occasionally receives corporate sponsorship for specific community drives. For example, in its Winter Warmth campaign providing heaters and blankets to whānau, it teamed up with The Warehouse retail chain (which donated goods) and a charitable foundation that provided funding (acknowledged in press releases). The Trust’s annual Christmas events for children have been supported by corporate donors and the local police.
• Collaborative Ventures: Waipareira entered a joint venture with a private developer (West Harbour Holdings) in the mid-2000s to build a hotel, as an attempt to create economic returns for the Trust. While that particular collaboration turned sour (see “Controversies”), it exemplifies the Trust’s willingness to collaborate outside the non-profit sphere for its goals. In 2007, the Trust collaborated with a biotech company by investing in ICP Biotechnology Ltd (NZX-listed) to forge a relationship and potentially gain dividends.
• Sponsorship by Waipareira: The Trust itself often acts as a sponsor for community initiatives. It has financially supported Māori sports teams, local school cultural festivals, and provided scholarships to Māori students. It also sponsors (through in-kind support or funding) research in indigenous well-being (via its Wai-Atamai unit partnering with universities).
In summary, Waipareira’s collaborations span government, community, and private sectors. It plays both roles of sponsor and recipient: funneling resources into grassroots events, and aligning with external partners for larger objectives. These collaborations have broadened its impact but, as noted later, some have also entangled it in controversy (e.g. mixing cultural events with partisan politics).
25. Events (organised or hosted by the organisation): Waipareira Trust has been involved in a wide array of events, reflecting its community leadership and advocacy:
• Annual General Meeting (AGM): The Trust holds an AGM each year, typically at Hoani Waititi Marae, open to whānau members. These meetings (e.g. November 2024 AGM) include board elections and presentations of annual reports. They often draw hundreds of community members and are sometimes newsworthy (for example, when board election results or constitutional changes occur).
• Whānau Day & Community Festivals: Every year Waipareira organizes a “Whānau Day” – a free community festival with entertainment, health checks, and service info. It’s usually held in Henderson and features stalls from government agencies, entertainment for kids, and performances. The Trust uses these events to connect with clients and celebrate community.
• Matariki Celebrations: In 2023, Waipareira hosted a high-profile Matariki concert in West Auckland that doubled as Te Pāti Māori’s election campaign launch. In prior years, the Trust held Matariki community dinners and fireworks displays in collaboration with local iwi.
• Campaign Launches and Rallies: Notably, Waipareira has hosted events that are quasi-political. Aside from the 2023 Matariki/political rally, in 2020 the Trust’s headquarters was the venue for John Tamihere’s announcement of running for Te Pāti Māori, and in 2019 for his Auckland mayoral campaign gatherings. These events were public, but funded or supported by the Trust (leading to later scrutiny, as discussed).
• Conferences and Summits: The Trust has convened Whānau Ora Symposia bringing together providers and policymakers. It celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2019 with a large conference highlighting “Urban Māori Authority – 35 years on,” featuring government speakers. Waipareira also co-hosted (with NUMA) an Urban Māori Leaders Summit in 2016 focused on housing and social policy, reported in Māori media.
• Health and Social Service Events: Waipareira regularly holds health-focused events – e.g. Super Vax Day 2021 at its hub (launching a mass vaccination center with a dawn ceremony); job fairs for Māori youth at its training center; free dental clinic days; and White Ribbon anti-violence marches in Henderson (the Trust organizes the local march against family violence each November).
• Sports Tournaments: Historically, Waipareira’s Rugby League Tournament in the 1990s was a major event, drawing teams from across Auckland. While that specific tournament isn’t ongoing, the Trust continues to support local sports days and in 2017 launched a “Marae Cup” league tournament in West Auckland. It also annually sponsors and helps run the IronMāori West triathlon event promoting health.
• Cultural Events: The Trust’s kapa haka group performs at regional competitions, and Waipareira has hosted regional Kapa Haka qualifiers at its Whānau Centre. It also holds events for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) and Waitangi Day in West Auckland (often partnering with the local council to run a Waitangi Day festival at Hoani Waititi).
• Fundraisers and Galas: Occasionally, Waipareira holds fundraising dinners or gala balls (for example, a 2013 gala to launch a new building raised funds from community donors). These events, while not annual, are part of its repertoire to engage sponsors and supporters.
Overall, Waipareira is very event-active – using events as both service delivery tools (eg. health days) and as visibility and influence opportunities. However, the blending of community events with political aims (like the 2023 concert urging “two ticks Māori Party”) has been controversial (see below).
26. Political Donations: (Public records and investigations have revealed multiple instances of the Trust’s resources being used for political funding, despite charities law prohibitions). Key known donations and contributions include:
• 2019 Auckland Mayoral Campaign: Waipareira Trust provided NZ$100,000 to fund CEO John Tamihere’s run for Auckland Mayor in 2019. Initially this was a direct donation from the Trust’s funds to Tamihere’s campaign, which raised immediate questions. After a Charities Services investigation began, the Trust reclassified this as a personal interest-free loan to Tamihere, attempting to comply with regulations. The donation/loan was not publicly disclosed at the time of the election (Tamihere’s campaign finance declarations did not list the Trust, leading to an under-reporting issue). This $100k infusion was critical to Tamihere’s campaign advertising but later triggered regulatory scrutiny in late 2019.
• 2020 General Election (Te Pāti Māori): The Trust (and/or its subsidiaries) went on to support Tamihere’s 2020 parliamentary campaign with hundreds of thousands of dollars. By 2022, Charities Services found that a total of $385,307 NZD in “loans” had been advanced to Tamihere for political campaigning – this figure encompasses the 2019 mayoral bid and significant support for Tamihere’s 2020 Te Pāti Māori campaign for the Tāmaki Makaurau seat. Essentially, what started as donations were re-cast as related-party loans to avoid outright breach of charity rules. The loans remained interest-free and unpaid for several years, effectively functioning as campaign funds. (Under pressure, Waipareira demanded repayment in 2023 and Tamihere finally repaid the ~$385k in May 2023.)
• In-Kind Support & Services (2020 & 2023): Beyond cash, Waipareira provided in-kind resources to the Māori Party (Te Pāti Māori). For the 2020 general election, the Trust’s staff and infrastructure were reportedly used to assist Tamihere (who was the Māori Party’s candidate and by 2022 became party President). The 2024 Charities investigation found the Trust had also given indirect donations to Te Pāti Māori’s 2020 campaign, likely through covering campaign event costs and staff time. In the 2023 general election, Waipareira (still led by Tamihere) arranged and hosted campaign activities: notably, the Trust organized a large Matariki public concert in July 2023 which was effectively used as Te Pāti Māori’s Auckland campaign launch rally. The Trust bore the costs of this event (stage, venue, promotion) as a “community concert,” but it had clear political messaging and benefit. Furthermore, a Trust subsidiary provided “messaging services” (mass text messaging) to Te Pāti Māori’s 2023 campaign, worth $5,486, urging people in the Trust’s database to vote Māori Party. These text blasts said “Two ticks Te Pāti Māori” and were sent to contacts gathered via Waipareira’s community work. While $5.5k seems small, it exemplified the Trust’s continued contributions.
• Historical (1990s) Donations: In 1999, Waipareira Trust covertly paid $18,648 toward John Tamihere’s general election expenses (when he successfully ran as a Labour MP). This was revealed in 2004 during the “golden handshake” inquiry. If counted, that spending, combined with Tamihere’s declared $16,991 of expenses, meant he exceeded the legal campaign spending limit in 1999. However, at the time it was not public – it came out later via an internal Trust letter stating they’d deduct those costs from his severance package. This indicates that even in the 1990s the Trust’s money was used to boost Tamihere’s political endeavors (though concealed as “severance adjustments”).
• Donations to Other Politicians or Parties: No other direct political donations by Waipareira Trust (to politicians besides Tamihere) are publicly documented. The focus has been on Tamihere and Māori Party support. It is possible small sponsorships occurred (e.g. buying tables at political fundraisers, which can blur lines), but if so they haven’t been disclosed. In fact, Charities Services emphasised that any donation to a political party or candidate is forbidden for a charity, and Waipareira’s case has been a test of those rules.
• Current Status: These political contributions have placed the Trust’s charitable status in jeopardy. In late 2024 the Charities Registration Board moved to deregister Waipareira Trust for making these political donations. The Trust’s own 2024 accounts openly acknowledged the issue and that deregistration was being considered. Waipareira’s stance is that those were loans, now repaid, and that it will fight the deregistration. (In essence, the Trust argues they did not ultimately gift the money, since Tamihere paid it back after the fact; regulators see it as a circumvention of the law.) This situation is ongoing, with appeals likely (see Part Two).
In summary, Waipareira Trust diverted substantial charitable funds into partisan political campaigns, primarily benefiting John Tamihere’s runs for office. These were not openly declared at the time and only came to light through investigative journalism and regulatory probing. Such donations are atypical for a charity and form a central controversy around the Trust’s political influence and compliance.
27. Controversies: Over the years, Waipareira Trust has been embroiled in multiple controversies, often tied to governance, finance, and political entanglements:
• “Golden Handshake” Scandal (2004): In the early 2000s, it emerged that John Tamihere had accepted a $195,000 severance payment from Waipareira Trust upon leaving to become an MP in 1999 – despite publicly saying he wouldn’t take a payout. Worse, no tax was paid on this payment initially. When this “golden goodbye” came to light in 2004, it caused a national political scandal. A government inquiry was ordered into the Trust’s finances and Tamihere’s severance. The inquiry examined whether the payout was properly approved and taxed. Ultimately Tamihere was cleared of criminal wrongdoing, partly by arguing he believed the sum was net of tax and that paying tax was the Trust’s responsibility. (IRD confirmed that at the time a recipient didn’t have to file a return if income was believed taxed at source.) However, the episode tarnished both Tamihere and the Trust, exposing internal documents and creating mistrust. It also revealed that Waipareira had secretly financed some of Tamihere’s 1999 campaign expenses (nearly $19k) and then deducted that from his payout – raising legality issues. The scandal led to Tamihere resigning his ministerial portfolios in 2004 and not standing for re-election in 2005. Waipareira Trust’s reputation took a hit, and its accounts fell under scrutiny of the Serious Fraud Office (which ultimately laid no charges). This incident highlighted weak governance controls at the Trust around conflicts of interest and compliance.
• Boardroom Turmoil (2003–2004): Around the same time, Waipareira’s governance was in crisis. The Trust’s Board was factional and “fractious,” culminating in a public showdown at the 2004 AGM. Longtime chairman Eynon Delamere was essentially forced to step down amid accusations of mismanagement and hostility toward members. A third of board members were ousted by the membership in a vote prior to that. There were allegations that the Chair had improperly removed certain Trust members (perhaps those critical of leadership). At one AGM, a motion of no confidence in the entire board was raised by members, reflecting deep dissatisfaction. The Trust’s chief executive in 2004, Reg Ratahi, even had to rule procedural challenges during these heated meetings. This governance meltdown was widely reported in NZ Herald as the Trust “head stands down after row”. It underscored internal conflicts and lack of transparency to members. The turmoil was eventually resolved by bringing in new board blood (e.g. Ray Hall and others) and Tamihere’s return to steady the ship after his parliamentary stint. But it stands as a lesson in how politics and patronage strained the Trust’s accountability to its own community.
• Conflicts of Interest & Personal Benefit: The Trust has faced recurring questions about whether its leadership used Trust resources for personal gain. Aside from the 1999 payout, a major controversy emerged over a property joint venture in the late 2000s. Waipareira Trust entered a JV with West Harbour Holdings to build a hotel at Gulf Harbour. As part of that deal, in 2008 the Trust released a mortgage on a property and loaned about $500,000 (the proceeds) to John Tamihere, enabling him to purchase a personal $1.36 million home on Te Atatū Peninsula. Shockingly, no formal documentation of that loan to Tamihere existed. When the JV fell apart (the developer went into liquidation), the Trust ended up in court trying to recover funds. A High Court judge noted disputes over who lent Tamihere money and on what terms, indicating extremely poor governance (the matter was headed to trial). It was reported that Waipareira faced an expected loss of $2.2 million on this failed deal. This situation (revealed around 2011) drew criticism that Tamihere and the Trust’s board engaged in self-dealing. While ultimately the details were settled privately, it left a cloud over Waipareira’s financial ethics. Similarly, the nepotism question is raised by the fact that Tamihere’s wife, Awerangi, holds a top executive role (COO) – though she is qualified, outsiders note the potential conflict in having both CEO and COO from one family running a charity. These instances contribute to a perception of nepotism or insider benefit at the Trust.
• Exorbitant Executive Pay: Public data revealed that Waipareira Trust’s executives were among the highest-paid in the charity sector. In 2023, after a hefty remuneration increase, the average pay of the Trust’s key management (13 FTEs) was about $510,679 – topping even large universities and far above typical non-profit CEO salaries. This became a controversy when reported: the Trust leadership attempted to mitigate optics by doubling the count of “key personnel” (to dilute the average), which brought the average down to ~$296k in 2024. Nevertheless, critics argue this is excessive use of charitable funds for salaries, especially given those same leaders were using funds for political purposes. The Trust defended its pay as matching the complexity of its operations, but the issue feeds into the narrative of weak accountability and enrichment at the top.
• Charity Law Breaches & Political Activity: As detailed, the Trust’s financing of political campaigns (2019–2023) is highly controversial. Charities Services deemed it “serious wrongdoing” for Waipareira to fund a political candidate. The Trust initially reached a settlement in early 2023 agreeing to stop such activity, but then allegedly breached it by involvement in the 2023 campaign launch. This prompted regulators to take the unprecedented step of moving to deregister the Trust in late 2024. If carried out, it would be one of the most significant charity deregistrations in NZ history. Tamihere’s combative response – telling the NZ Herald “F* off! Print that!**” when asked about the case – drew criticism for flouting accountability. The saga highlights a major conflict of interest: the CEO using charitable resources to advance his political ambitions, and the Trust’s apparent willingness to risk its reputation and tax status for that. The outcome of this stands to impact the Trust’s future (see Part Two analysis).
• Data Misuse and Privacy Concerns (2023–2025): In 2023, allegations arose that personal data gathered by Waipareira/Whānau Ora programs was misused for electioneering. Specifically, an inquiry (the Craig inquiry) looked into Manurewa Marae – which was working with Waipareira’s Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency – and found it was likely some Census and COVID vaccine data was copied at the marae, raising the possibility it could be used politically. The Privacy Commissioner launched an investigation in 2025 into whether Waipareira, the Commissioning Agency, or the marae misused confidential data for Te Pāti Māori’s campaign. John Tamihere vehemently denied that any census data was used for election purposes, though he did acknowledge duplicate census forms were made at the marae (ostensibly to help people fill them, then meant to be destroyed). Tamihere claimed Waipareira was being “targeted for being Māori,” implying the scrutiny was unfair or racist. Nonetheless, this raised ethical red flags: as a Whānau Ora agency, Waipareira had access to sensitive personal information to help whānau – if there was even a perception it blurred that into voter mobilization, it erodes trust. The final outcome of the privacy investigation is pending, but it’s a controversy that further illustrates blurred lines between the Trust’s social service role and political interests.
• Financial Missteps and Losses: The Trust has had its share of failed ventures that drew criticism for risking charitable assets. The aforementioned hotel JV loss was one. Also, the ICP Biotechnology investment in 2007 – Waipareira bought into a biotech hoping for profit – ended poorly when that company collapsed a year later, presumably losing the Trust’s investment (an embarrassment for a charity dabbling in speculative biotech stock). Opponents sometimes point to these as examples of mismanagement or mission-drift. However, supporters might say the Trust was trying innovative ways to grow its asset base for community benefit.
• Relationship with Regulators: Waipareira’s aggressive stance toward regulators has itself been contentious. The Department of Internal Affairs staff reported feeling bullied by Waipareira’s lawyers during the charities investigation. The Trust accused Charities Services of racism at one point. Such a toxic back-and-forth is unusual between a major charity and its regulator, and it became a public controversy covered by media. It raised questions about whether Waipareira believes it’s above the rules due to its political connections.
Overall, Waipareira Trust’s controversies often center on transparency, conflicts of interest, and the mixing of charitable purpose with personal/political agendas. While the Trust undeniably does much good for its community, these incidents have cast shadows on its governance. Each controversy has prompted calls for greater accountability – and indeed is a driving reason behind investigating Waipareira’s political influence.
28. Other Information of Note:
• Financial Scale: Waipareira Trust today is financially robust compared to most charities. As of 2024 it reported annual revenue of ~$79 million and net assets of $104 million. The bulk of revenue comes from government contracts (Whānau Ora, health, education), with additional income from investments and services. This makes Waipareira one of the largest Māori charities and underscores its influence (for context, its revenue rivals a small government department’s budget). The potential tax liability if deregistered is significant – roughly a one-off $20–30 million tax on accumulated assets – indicating how much wealth it holds.
• Group Structure: The Trust’s operations are diversified through subsidiaries. Whānau Tahi Ltd develops IT systems (it created a Whānau Ora client management platform used by providers nationwide, and even secured contracts in the US and Australia in the mid-2010s). Wai-Tech Ltd runs training programs and was once the largest Māori training provider in Auckland in the late 1980s. Wai-Atamai (Research Unit): Not separately incorporated, but a key part of the Trust focusing on data and impact measurement; it has published reports on urban Māori outcomes. Waipareira Investments Ltd holds equity stakes – e.g. it has owned property, and held shares in commercial ventures (like a stake in Radio Waatea in the 2000s, and a joint venture with an iwi in a property trust). This quasi-corporate structure is noteworthy because it shows Waipareira operates with a group model more akin to a corporation than a typical community charity.
• John Tamihere’s Family Legacy: The Trust is deeply intertwined with Tamihere’s personal story. John is one of 12 siblings from West Auckland. A lesser-known fact: his brother David Tamihere was involved in a notorious murder case in the 1990s (the “Swedish tourists” case). While unrelated to Waipareira’s operations, this family tragedy and subsequent advocacy (John long maintained his brother’s innocence) shaped John’s outlook on justice and rehabilitation – issues Waipareira works on. Another brother, Tau Tamihere, and other whānau have been involved in Waipareira’s community outreach over time. The Trust often talks of being a “whānau,” and for Tamihere it’s literally true – he has described that “my mokopuna [grandchildren] are my priority” and that motivates his work.
• Positive Achievements: Despite controversies, Waipareira has many success stories: it has consistently expanded services for urban Māori when government agencies struggled to reach them. For example, Waipareira’s pioneering restorative justice program at Hoani Waititi Marae in the 1990s helped reduce re-offending (it was among the first Māori-led justice initiatives). Its education programs like Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi (a total-immersion Māori school established 1985 with Waipareira’s help) have produced generations of fluent Māori speakers. Waipareira’s model influenced the creation of entities like Te Whānau O Waipareira Report (Wai 414) which in turn influenced policy to recognize urban Māori. In 2022, Waipareira’s agreement with Oranga Tamariki set a national precedent for devolving child protection to a community – a significant policy innovation. These developments are frequently cited as the Trust’s important contributions.
• Political Evolution: Waipareira’s political alignment has shifted: originally non-partisan but working closely with whichever government in power (Labour in the 2000s, National-Māori Party in the 2010s). By the late 2010s, under Tamihere, the Trust became more openly critical of the Labour government and aligned with the Māori Party (reflecting Tamihere’s personal shift). This is notable because it may affect its relationships with funders depending on which party is in power. Indeed, in early 2023 the Labour-led government decided not to renew Waipareira’s Whānau Ora contract (awarding it to other providers), effectively cutting a major funding stream. Tamihere publicly blamed this on political retaliation for his Māori Party role. This dynamic of perceived politicization is a critical backdrop for understanding Waipareira’s situation going forward.
• Future Outlook: The Trust stands at a crossroads: If it loses charitable status (decision pending as of 2025), it will operate as a non-charity trust – meaning it can lobby freely but must pay taxes and potentially distribute assets. The Trust has indicated it would continue its mission regardless, even if it meant paying tax. Meanwhile, Tamihere’s leadership will likely continue to spark debate on how Māori organizations engage with politics. In the broader context, Waipareira’s journey reflects the challenges of urban Māori asserting tino rangatiratanga (self-determination) in a modern context – carving out political influence to benefit their people, but also being held to account under general laws and norms of transparency.
Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz