Stacey Morrison

When Stacey Morrison meets other Ngāi Tahu whānau she checks if they belong to Whai Rawa, the Ngāi Tahu investment scheme, and goes into campaign mode if they don’t. “It is your right if you are Ngāi Tahu to be part of Whai Rawa,” says Morrison.

“People often ask me what we get on a day-to-day basis from the settlement,” she says. “Whai Rawa is a great example of it.” In a society where, as Stacey says, it’s “hard to get extra money for anything”, Whai Rawa is a tangible way to benefit, with matched annual savings.

Auckland-based Morrison (Ngāi Tahu – Kāti Irakehu,  Te Arawa) first became aware of Whai Rawa by reading Te Karaka and other iwi publications.

Morrison jokes that husband Scotty was so impressed with Whai Rawa that he searched long and hard for Ngāi Tahu whakapapa so that he could join, but failed.

Whai Rawa is one of the ways that Morrison keeps in touch with Ngāi Tahu. Being part of the Ngāi Tahu diaspora means that she has less face-to-face contact with whānui and the iwi in general.  Morrison adds: “I have tried to be involved in Ngāi Tahu mahi when I can, even though I don’t live in the South Island.”  She also follows Ngāi Tahu and Whai Rawa on Facebook to stay in touch.

The Morrison family’s involvement in Whai Rawa is more than a financial investment.  It’s a cultural investment and an investment in the education of the tamariki.  The children’s accounts are helping the development of financial literacy in the whānau. “They don’t get much (financial teaching) at school, and Whai Rawa is beneficial for their financial education,” Morrison says.

It also helps foster discussions around the dinner table over kai.  “It helps me point out to the kids that although they live outside Ngāi Tahu that it’s a really important part of their whakapapa and they should be grateful for the benefits they will get.