Introduction

The Palmerston North Maori Reserve Trust is an Ahu Whenua Trust constituted under Section 244 of Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993. 

The Trust is governed by a board of 9 Trustees, with Liz Mellish being the current Chairman. Trustees are elected by the beneficial owners.

There are currently 910 beneficial owners with many other whanau through those beneficial owners.

With total assets of $90 million as at March 31, 2017 the beneficial owners have been achieving a very good economic return from their assets.

The Trust currently owns a total of approximately 13 hectares of land in central Palmerston North. It also jointly owns a property with Wellington Tenths Trust in Thorndon, Wellington. 

Relationship with Wellington Tenths Trust

Palmerston North Maori Reserve Trust and Wellington Tenths Trust are known as "sister trusts". This is because they emanate from the same parents, that being the land and waters at Te Whanganui a Tara.

Both Trusts are comprised of etehi o nga hapu/iwi o Taranaki who are mana whenua at Te Whanganui a Tara.

This, along with the terms of land exchange that created the Palmerston North Maori Reserve, shows how closely the Trusts are ‘related’ with many owners succeeding to both Trusts. It is important to have an understanding of the ‘whakapapa’ of the Trusts in order to understand the closeness of the relationship they share.