A tribute to Sandra Cook
It is with sadness that we acknowledge the passing of one of our Trustees, Sandra Cook, who was instrumental in revitalizing the Trust since her appointment in 2017. Sandra already had quite an extensive association with the Trust and its objectives dating back to when the Trust was initially established. And she saw her role as a Trustee was to bring together the various strands of her knowledge and experience to breathe life into the objectives of the Trust which was established, amongst other things, to restore and enhance the mahinga kai values within the Waiau Catchment.
Sandra greatly valued the importance of mahinga kai to Ngāi Tahu Whānui, and she was involved in the negotiations for, and drafting of, parts of the Ngāi Tahu Deed of Settlement.
Mahinga Kai, was the ninth tall tree of Te Kereme (the Ngāi Tahu Claim). Her work included the cultural redress sections of the Deed which included the return to Ngāi Tahu ownership of the Rakiura Tītī Islands and Rarotoka. She then assisted the Rakiura Tītī Islands Administering Body to prepare a Management Plan and Bylaws for those islands, and for nearly twenty years led the Ōraka Aparima Rūnanga restoration project on Rarotoka.
She held several governance positions including Kaiwhakahaere of Ōraka Aparima Rūnanga and Alternate Representative to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, a member of the New Zealand Conservation Authority and a Guardian of Lakes Manapōuri, Te Ana au and Monowai.
Along with her partner Cathy, Sandra lived at Te Kōawa for a while, and instigated some of the important restoration mahi that continues today. Her vision for the site was influenced by the Kaumātua that went before her, and we intend to continue the vision by implementing the restoration plan for the site. We pass our sincere condolences onto Cathy and Sandra’s whānau, and I would like to acknowledge Sandra for the important mahi she did for the Trust. She will be greatly missed.
There is more infomation on Sandra’s life and achievements in this article.