The board of Te Ohu Kaimoana has appointed Graeme Hastilow (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga) to the role of Te Mātārae (chief executive) of Te Ohu Kaimoana, effective immediately.
“Graeme has been an integral member of our kāhui for over 10 years. He has been a top performer in several key roles for our organisation; most recently as the principal adviser to the chief executive. He is highly regarded by his peers and holds significant experience in working with iwi. He is an authority on the Māori fisheries and aquaculture settlements and
has an in-depth understanding of customary and commercial fisheries as well as aquaculture. The board and staff look forward to supporting Graeme to deliver value for our iwi,” said Te Ohu Kaimoana Tumu Whakarae (chair) Pahia Turia.
Hastilow had been interim CEO of Te Ohu Kaimoana since the departure of Lisa te Heuheu in February.
“It’s an honour to have been appointed to the role, and I’m excited about the challenges that lie before us. I owe a debt of gratitude to the former CEOs of Te Ohu Kaimoana, Robin Hapi, Peter Douglas, Dion Tuuta and Lisa te Heuheu. They led the way for the protection and enhancement of the settlements” said Hastilow.
“Te Ohu Kaimoana will need to remain principled and be bold; with the board’s imperative to develop a kawa (guiding principles) to guide the way in which Te Ohu Kaimoana thinks and acts. We have a number of key priorities to focus on as an organisation, such as the progression of the Māori Fisheries Amendment Bill, and the ongoing need to uphold the intent of the Deed of Settlement in the face of numerous pressures.”
“There are also numerous opportunities for us to be policy and thought leaders; and to be innovative in the way that we deliver value to iwi while enhancing the settlements. I can’t wait,” said Hastilow.
Hastilow joined Te Ohu Kaimoana in February 2014, and had previously been a member of the fisheries policy team, manager of Te Wai Māori Trust, and principal advisor to the chief executive. Before that, Hastilow received the Global Fisheries Scholarship from Te Ohu Kaimoana and spent a year in Japan learning and working within the Nissui Group.
Meanwhile, Te Ohu Kaimoana also announced the appointment of Dion Tuuta as deputy chair for Te Ohu Kaimoana.
Tuuta previously held the role of chief executive of Te Ohu Kaimoana from 2016 to 2020 before returning home to Taranaki to take up his current position of Pouwhakahaere (chief executive) of Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa.
Tuuta is an experienced director and is the current chair of Parininihi Ki Waitotara Incorporation, former chair of Port Nicholson Fisheries and former director of Seafood New Zealand.
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