The Māori Trustee

The Māori Trustee is a role set by law under the Māori Trustee Act.  The Māori Trustee is appointed by the Minister of Māori Affairs, but is independent under the Act with his/her primary accountability being to the owners.

The current Māori Trustee, Jamie Tuuta, was appointed in August 2011.  He is from Ngāti Mutunga and Taranaki iwi.

Jamie has a background in governance, iwi development, Treaty settlements, policy and general management.  He is the chair of Parininihi ki Waitotara Incorporation and is the former chair of Te Runanga o Ngāti Mutunga.  He also holds a range of governance positions in sectors including iwi development, agribusiness, fishing, investment, health, Māori development and education.  He is a member of the Government appointed Bioprospecting Taumata, the Government's PEAK Group for Sustainable Land Management and the Investment Advisory Panel for the Primary Growth Partnership.