Estimates of Gisborne-based Mangatu Incorporation’s losses on its failed North America lamb ‘farm-to-plate’ marketing campaign vary from $57.2 million to $86.7 million. Demands for a Maori Land Court investigation were stymied by a procedural dispute over proxy forms.
Mangatu used carbon credits generated by replanting 8000 hectares of Maori-owned farmland into forestry to finance a Canadian joint venture, exporting meat to North America. The venture failed.
As a member of Mangatu Incorporation, activist Marise Lant demanded an investigation, alleging Incorporation trustees failed to act properly. She wants a Serious Fraud Office investigation.
Separately, she wants the Maori Land Court to investigate.
One method of forcing a Te Ture Whenua Maori Act investigation is to have at least ten per cent of incorporation members request an enquiry.
Ms Lant says she has support from twelve per cent of Incorporation shareholding. Mangatu has 6500 owners, holding just over 850,000 shares.
As evidence of support, she filed in court details of proxy forms signed by Mangatu owners authorising her to act on their behalf at Mangatu’s 2024 annual general meeting.
Judge Milner ruled these proxy forms were not evidence calling for court intervention; they simply authorised her to exercise their votes at Incorporation meetings.
Discounting these proxy forms meant Ms Lant did not reach the required ten per cent threshold for Maori Land Court intervention.
She told the court that Mangatu trustees had ignored her past requests that a resolution calling for an investigation be put to members at the annual meeting.
Lant v. Mangatu Blocks Incorporation – Maori Land Court (5.09.25)
25.199