Ngati Apa Ki Te Ra To Trust

What Ngati Apa Ki Te Ra To Trust does

Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Trust is a post-settlement Māori iwi (tribal) governance entity established in 2014 following the Kurahaupō Treaty of Waitangi settlement. Headquartered in Blenheim with a secondary office in Nelson, the trust serves registered iwi members (whānau) across Te Tauihu — the top of the South Island of New Zealand, spanning the Marlborough, Nelson, and Tasman regions. Its mandate covers cultural revitalisation, te reo Māori language programmes, customary fisheries management, education grants and scholarships, advocacy (notably the Nelson Tenths Case), and stewardship of Treaty settlement assets. The trust participates in the nine-iwi Te Waka a Maui Forum and the national 73-iwi Iwi Leaders Forum, and operates with a Board of Trustees representing the hapū Pūaha te Rangi and Tarakaipa.

The organisation's service portfolio is programme- rather than technology-led. Core cultural offerings include Mana Rangatahi (flagship rangatahi wānanga and Te Reo Māori Awards finalist), Te Kaiaotanga o Te Reo language symposium, Te Haeata waka (launched 2019 after seven generations without a canoe), Te Ipukarea inter-iwi sports event, and the Tūapapa Wānanga Series. Member support encompasses 14+ grant and scholarship programmes (including Āwhina Grants, Education Grants, Trades Training Grants, Kaumātua Koha, Tangihanga Grants, and four named scholarships such as the June Robinson Kuru Pounamu Memorial at $5,000/yr for up to three years), an extensive cultural resource library (waiata, pepeha, Mau Mahara card game, education packs), and digital content via APA TV, Te Kūmara Vine, Pānui newsletter, and Kia Hiwa Rā magazine. Member services are delivered through the third-party MāoriMe online portal and face-to-face at two offices, with no proprietary technology platform.

Revenue is generated indirectly through two wholly-owned subsidiaries. Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Investments Limited (NAIL) manages commercial interests including fisheries (multi-iwi/Sealord deep-sea quota arrangement; Sealord invested $70 million in the Tokatu vessel), aquaculture, property (including 10 former school sites acquired in 2016), managed funds, and private equity. Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Assets Holding Company Limited (NAAHC) holds settlement assets including lakes and springs returned in the Nelson Lakes area. The trust itself is a charitable entity providing cultural, educational, and customary fishing services to registered members at no cost.

Name

Ngati Apa Ki Te Ra To Trust

Legal name

Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Trust

Website

https://ngatiapakiterato.iwi.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Trust is a post-settlement Māori iwi governance entity serving registered whānau across Te Tauihu (top of the South Island), New Zealand. It delivers cultural revitalisation programmes, education grants, customary fisheries management, and commercial investment stewardship via two wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Iwi Governance and Cultural Services

NAICS

American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (921150)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stakeholder Engagement, Indigenous/Tribal Consultation & Social Impact (SIA) (EUAHAAAH), Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

Keywords

• Iwi cultural services
• Treaty settlement governance
• Cultural revitalisation programmes
• Education grants scholarships
• Customary fisheries management

Headquarters

HQ city

Blenheim

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Commercial Investments: The trust generates revenue through its commercial arm (NAIL - Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Investments Limited) which manages fisheries, aquaculture, property, managed funds, private equity, and other commercial investments to grow intergenerational wealth for the iwi.
2. Customary Fisheries: The trust holds and manages customary fisheries rights including deep sea quota (leased through multi-iwi/Sealord agreement) and customary fishing authorisations through appointed tangata tiaki.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Trust is a post-settlement Māori iwi governance entity that delivers cultural revitalisation programmes (Mana Rangatahi wānanga, te reo Māori events, Te Haeata waka), education grants and scholarships, customary fisheries management, kaumātua support, and member registration services to registered iwi members. Commercial investment activities, including fisheries, aquaculture, property, and managed funds, are operated through wholly-owned subsidiary NAIL to grow intergenerational wealth.

Product overview

Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Trust is a post-settlement iwi (Māori tribal) organisation based in Te Tauihu (top of the South Island), New Zealand. The organisation offers a broad portfolio of cultural, educational, and community support services rather than a traditional technology product. Core cultural programmes include Mana Rangatahi (flagship cultural revitalisation wānanga), Te Haeata Waka (traditional waka/canoe), and Te Kaiaotanga o Te Reo (language revitalisation events). Digital platforms include APA TV (video content), Te Kūmara Vine (member stories/newsletter), Pānui (newsletter publication), and Kia Hiwa Rā (iwi magazine). Financial support programmes include Education Grants, Trades Training Grants, Āwhina Grants, and four named scholarships (June Robinson Kuru Pounamu Memorial, Kath Hemi Huia Kaimanawa, Mangatāwhai Pakihi, Rotomairewhenua Taiao). Cultural resources include Waiata collections, Pepeha templates, Mau Mahara kupu card games, and customary fisheries management. Member services are delivered through the MāoriMe online portal and registration system. The organisation also provides advocacy support for the Nelson Tenths land rights case.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mana Rangatahi: Flagship cultural revitalisation programme for rangatahi (youth) focusing on cultural development and identity.
• APA TV

Products and services

• Mana Rangatahi Flagship cultural revitalisation wānanga programme strengthening rangatahi's connection to the iwi, culture, and identity through cultural education.
• APA TV Video content platform showcasing the iwi's kaupapa, events, and cultural activities.
• Te Haeata Waka Traditional waka (canoe) used for cultural revitalisation, launched after seven generations without a waka.
• Te Kaiaotanga o Te Reo Language revitalisation symposium and event series promoting te reo Māori within the iwi and wider Te Tauihu community.
• Customary Fisheries Management Management of customary fishing rights under South Island Customary Fisheries Regulations, including training tangata tiaki to authorise and monitor fishing activities.
• Te Ipukarea Annual inter-iwi sports and cultural competition event hosted by the iwi, bringing together Te Tauihu iwi for competitive and cultural activities.
• Āwhina Grants Financial assistance grants for iwi members facing hardship or needing support.
• Education Grants Tertiary education financial support for registered iwi members pursuing undergraduate and post-graduate studies.
• Trades Training Grants Financial support for iwi members undertaking trades training and vocational education.
• Sports & Recreation Grants Funding support for iwi members participating in sports and recreational activities.
• Kaumātua Koha Support payments and koha for kaumātua (elders) of the iwi.
• Tangihanga Grants Financial assistance for iwi members for tangihanga (funeral) expenses.
• June Robinson Kuru Pounamu Memorial Scholarship Scholarship supporting registered iwi members studying towards a tertiary qualification in health and wellbeing. Recipients receive $5,000 per year for course fees and $1,000 for materials/travel for up to three years.
• Kath Hemi Huia Kaimanawa Scholarship Scholarship supporting te reo Māori revitalisation among iwi members.
• Mangatāwhai Pakihi Scholarship Scholarship supporting iwi members pursuing business or entrepreneurial studies.
• Rotomairewhenua Taiao Scholarship Scholarship supporting iwi members studying towards a tertiary qualification majoring in an environmental field, with connection to the Rotomairewhenua wāhi tapu site.
• Nelson Tenths Case Support Support and advocacy services for iwi members involved in the Nelson Tenths (Stafford v Attorney General) case regarding customary land rights.
• Rēhitatanga (Registration) Online registration service for individuals to register with Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō and access iwi services and benefits.
• MāoriMe Member Portal Online member portal for registered iwi members to access services, manage registration, and engage with iwi programmes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mana Rangatahi wānanga reached national finalist status at Te Reo Māori Awards in youth section
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Te Here-ā-Nuku Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking group established to consider and advance the Nelson Tenths Case settlement or redress following the High Court's 2024 decision in favour of customary owners. Dr Peter Meihana and Nicole Akuhata are members representing Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō interests.
• SealordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-iwi/Sealord agreement for leasing deep sea quota, allowing participation in the full value chain and providing access to fish for customary purposes through related deepwater pataka. Sealord invested $70 million in Tokatu fishing vessel.
• Māori Education TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership allowing Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō scholarship and grant recipients to receive additional funding for tertiary studies through the Māori Education Trust.
• Brook Waimarama SanctuaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to translocate bird species including kiwi from Ōkārito to the fully fenced, predator-free sanctuary. First release of 15 kiwi planned for March 2019.
• Ngāti WaewaecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Carters Beach archaeological site repatriation, kaitiaki appointments in Kawatiri, and marakai project. Protocols signed in 2017 to advance joint initiatives.
• Te Ohu KaimoanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer General Manager Simon Karipa previously served as General Counsel for Te Ohu Kaimoana, the Māori Fisheries Trust managing circa assets.
• Nelson City Council and Marlborough District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric partnership agreement signed for councils and Te Tauihu iwi to work more closely together. Councils also voted in favour of Māori Wards.
• Department of ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOC partnership for environmental management, Taonga Tuturu protocols, kiwi translocation, and customary fisheries administration through tangata tiaki.
• Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu Charitable TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTe Tauihu iwi collective initiative with appointment of operations manager to support iwi recovery and coordination.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Waikato-Tainui: Post-settlement iwi governance entity with a commercial arm (Tainui Group Holdings) managing fisheries, property, and investments for intergenerational wealth. Comparable operating model — trust governing cultural, social, and commercial activities for registered members.
• Ngāti Kuia: Another Te Tauihu / northern South Island iwi with a post-settlement governance entity delivering cultural programmes, environmental kaitiakitanga, and member services. Direct geographic peer in the same rohe as Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō.
• Te Atiawa o Te Waka a Māui: Te Tauihu iwi participating in the same Te Waka a Maui Forum and inter-iwi collective as Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, operating a comparable post-settlement trust delivering cultural revitalisation and member services in the Top of the South Island.
• Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu: The largest South Island iwi, also a post-settlement governance entity managing Treaty settlement assets, a commercial arm, cultural revitalisation, and member services. Operates across a much larger rohe but follows the same post-settlement trust + commercial subsidiary model as Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō.
• Ngāti Waewae: Te Tauihu iwi with a post-settlement trust entity; Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō has an active partnership with Ngāti Waewae on Carters Beach archaeological repatriation and kaitiaki appointments, making it both a partner and a structurally comparable iwi trust peer.
• Rangitāne o Wairau: A neighbouring Te Tauihu iwi in the Marlborough region with a post-settlement trust structure providing cultural, educational, and fisheries services to members. Highly comparable given shared rohe and operational footprint in Te Tauihu.
• Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei: Auckland-based iwi trust with commercial property holdings, cultural revitalisation programmes, and member services delivered through a post-settlement governance structure. Direct peer in iwi trust operating model though different scale and region.
• Tūhoe: Iwi with Te Uru Taumatua as its post-settlement governance entity managing cultural revitalisation, settlement assets, and member services. Comparable operating model focused on cultural identity and asset-driven member benefits.
• Ngāti Porou: Large East Coast iwi with Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou providing cultural, education, health, and economic development services to members, alongside a commercial arm. Comparable iwi trust structure delivering a similar portfolio of member services and commercial investments.

Broad incumbents

• Te Ohu Kaimoana: National Māori Fisheries Trust managing fisheries assets on behalf of all iwi. Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō's GM Simon Karipa previously served as its General Counsel, and the iwi partners with Te Ohu Kaimoana — Te Ohu operates as a national umbrella entity with overlapping fisheries mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ngatiapakiterato
• Instagraminstagram.com/ngatiapakiterato
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ngati-apa-ki-te-ra-to-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ngati Apa Ki Te Ra To Trust