Posted: 11 September 2006
42 apply to join $12m NRC trust
More than 40 people have applied to fill six vacancies on the $12 million Northland Regional Council Community Trust.
The terms of six of the current eight trustees expire soon, prompting the trust - which operates as Enterprise Northland – to last month (August) begin looking for new appointees.
Forty-two people had filed applications ahead of a 5pm Friday (September 8) deadline and the Regional Council says it is pleased with the number and calibre of applicants.
Linda Stansfield, the Regional Council’s Strategic Development Manager, says the fact so many people are keen to serve on the trust is a testament to the successful work of both current and previous trustees.
The trust was formed in 1996 with the multimillion-dollar proceeds of the sale of some of the Regional Council’s majority shareholding in the Northland Port Corporation.
Ms Stansfield says aspiring trustees may also be appointed to the trust’s two subsidiaries, regional tourism body Destination Northland Ltd (set up in 1997) and the Enterprise Northland Trust, which was established in 2002 and supports economic development and sustainable business.
Ms Stansfield says a five-strong panel will oversee the selection process, with recommendations going to the Regional Council’s November full Council meeting.
Selection panel members include NRC Chairman Mark Farnsworth and the Mayors of the Whangarei, Far North and Kaipara Districts. They will be looking for Northland-based trustees with:
• proven business management experience
• knowledge of Maori culture and issues relating to business development
• experience in Trust operations or regional business development
• experience and expertise in strategic planning and financial management
• good networking skills and business connections.
New trustees are expected to take up their appointments from 1 December. Trustees meet every two months and are paid an annual $11,000 honorarium.