February 2025
The deputy chairperson of the New Zealand Climate Change Commission is Lisa Tumahai. She is also chairperson of Arahura Holding Ltd and executive member and trustee of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae. She is a former chairperson of Ngāi Tahu. Her husband, Francois Tumahai is Arahura Holding Ltd’s chief executive and he is chairperson of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae
Arahura Holding Ltd is the operating arm of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae.
The Climate Change Commission’s Public Conflict of Interest Register does not include any conflicts Lisa Tumahai may have.
Francois Tumahai is also a director of Bathurst Resources Ltd.
Bathurst Resources Ltd operates in the New Zealand West Coast Denniston Plateau region and is presently seeking government fast track approval to extend their coal mining operations.
When state-owned Solid Energy Ltd was begun to be wound up in 2015, Bathurst Resources purchased some of Solid Energy Ltd’s assets and also sought to purchase a moth-balled underground mining site known as Sullivan Mine for $450,000 but was denied NZ government consent to do so.
The same land was subsequently purchased by Arahura Holding Ltd for $25,000 who later entered into an agreement with Bathurst Resources / Bathurst Coal Ltd for the Sullivan Mine to be worked for an annual fee of $12,500.