The Board is the governing body of the BayTrust and currently has 9 members. They are appointed by the Minister of Finance for four-year terms.
The Board has among its members a balanced representation from throughout the Bay of Plenty and community, investment, legal and financial expertise to enable the Trust to apply broad-based skills and wisdom to it’s governance standards.
The Board is responsible for the policy direction of the BayTrust. This includes strategic planning, budgets and Investments, Grants and other Policies. It delegates the day-to-day management of the Trust to the Chief Executive.
The Board operates under a Charter which includes a Code of Conduct in which all Trustees commit to acting ethically and professionally and to avoid conflicts of interest with respect to their fiduciary responsibilities.
The Board has four standing committees: Audit, Governance, Investments and Scholarships.
Chair
What motivated you to be involved with BayTrust?
The Bay of Plenty, especially the Eastern Bay, has been my home for my entire life. Though the Bay of Plenty has gone through some hard times, I sense the vibrancy returning to our communities with much more opportunity for the communities to grow and I wish to be a part of that.
What are you most passionate about in supporting the community?
I am very passionate about jobs and also supporting grass-roots community organisations that are the backbone of many of our communities.
What are your three favourite things about the local community where you live?
More than anything - it is about the people, the people, the people.
What are you excited about for the future in the Bay of Plenty?
There are so many different ideas and kaupapa to help in the betterment of the Bay of Plenty - it excites me each and every day to help bring those to fruition.
What motivated you to be involved with BayTrust?
As a family lawyer, I am aware of the issues that face our community. I saw becoming a Trustee as a way to help those who are attempting to make improvements for our community and environment.
What are you most passionate about in supporting the community?
I am passionate about finding the best solutions for children and those most vulnerable. Bay Trust was another way that I could serve my community.
What are your three favourite things about the local community where you live?
There is a maori proverb that perfectly articulates what I love most about my community;
He aha te mea nui o te ao?
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata
What is the most important thing in the world?
It is the people, it is the people, it is the people
What are you excited about for the future in the Bay of Plenty?
The BayTrust is innovative with its granting and I am excited to be part of that.
What motivated you to be involved with BayTrust?
Having lived in the Bay of Plenty and raised a family here I relished the opportunity of being part of an organisation where the Vision is “Bay of Plenty is the greatest place to be”
What are you most passionate about in supporting the community?
I am passionate about seeing what the money we grant makes in improving the outcomes for many people in their daily lives.
What are your three favourite things about the local community where you live?
I love walking up and around the Mount and seeing so many people who are focused on exercise and sport in our community.
I am passionate about fishing and diving in the Bay of Plenty and think that we are so grateful to have the Pacific Ocean on our doorstep to play in.
I love the social aspect of our community including the café’, bars, restaurants, and the emerging music scene with the many diverse concerts occurring.
What are you excited about for the future in the Bay of Plenty?
Watching the Bay grow with the benefits being shared by all.
Chair - Investment Committee
What motivated you to be involved with BayTrust?
The work is really interesting and the trust is such a great community asset.
What are you most passionate about in supporting the community?
To help people who are struggling.
What are your three favourite things about the local community where you live?
Tauranga has good facilities and is close to the beach and the forest.
What are you excited about for the future in the Bay of Plenty?
Bay of plenty is becoming broader in its commercial activities, which gives younger people more opportunities.
Chair - Audit and Risk Committee
What motivated you to be involved with BayTrust?
After many years of working with a number of smaller Charities, it is time to help out with a larger Bay of Plenty funding organisation.
What are you most passionate about in supporting the community?
The harbour, coastline, parks, hills, mountains and beaches are an amazing resource that many do not get an opportunity to use. Make the unattainable attainable.
What are your three favourite things about the local community where you live?
I enjoy spending time on the harbour and the Bay of Plenty coastline and lakes
What are you excited about for the future in the Bay of Plenty?
After living here all my life, I have seen the Bay of Plenty grow and change as so many more have joined our community. There are some big changes that have to happen. It will be great to be a part of it.
What motivated you to be involved with BayTrust?
Since retiring from the public service and moving to Tauranga, I had been looking at how I could draw on my experience in international development to make a difference in my local community. Being part of BayTrust is a great way for me to contribute to community development in the Bay of Plenty.
What are you most passionate about in supporting the community?
The commitment and energy of local groups are what makes activities succeed, so I'm excited about giving a boost to locally grown solutions to the issues in our region.
What are your three favourite things about the local community where you live?
I love being near the ocean, mountains and bush. The people are welcoming at a personal level, and there is a sense of community and willingness to support each other.
What are you excited about for the future in the Bay of Plenty?
Times are changing. I'm encouraged by the growing focus on well-being and sustainability as guiding principles when we take opportunities and address challenges together.
What motivated you to be involved with BayTrust?
I believe in the values of BayTrust and I wanted to be part of the team that turns the words to actions.
What are you most passionate about in supporting the community?
Making the most of BOP life for our Tamariki and Rangatahi. I want the kids in our community to reflect on growing up here and be happy with their memories.
What are your three favourite things about the local community where you live?
-People still care for each other
-We can live off the land
-There is so much untapped potential for sustainable growth.
What are you excited about for the future in the Bay of Plenty?
I am excited that we have a future. For a long while, the naysayers insisted the BOP would suffer from population migration, leading to failing communities. In fact, the opposite has happened, because many of us chose to lead successful communities. Let’s keep moving forward!
Deputy Chair
What motivated you to be involved with BayTrust?
The opportunity to have a young Māori voice heard at the table is important to me and is something that continues to motivate me. I believe in the BayTrust’s values and think that as a group we have a fantastic opportunity to provide greater support to those who need it most.
What are you most passionate about in supporting the community?
I have seen many examples of young people (Māori and Pasifika in particular) who haven’t had the opportunity, nor the expectation on them to create something greater for themselves and their whānau. This often stems from a sense of disconnection and a their own lack of identity. I would like to see this changed.
What are your three favourite things about the local community where you live?
I like the natural landscape, I like the growing diversity of people, and I like the weather.
What are you excited about for the future in the Bay of Plenty?
I am excited to see young people provided with more opportunity and expectation to succeed.
What motivated you to be involved with BayTrust?
I was privileged to be chosen and nominated by Tamati Coffey. I represent a number if Iwi Trusts in Tuwharetoa Taupo and Turangi regions and familiar with neighbouring Iwi.
What are you most passionate about in supporting the community?
It is rewarding to distribute grants to assist meaningful benefits back to our community.
What are your three favourite things about the local community where you live?
Enjoying our beautiful picture post card view of Lake Taupo and the mountains, swimming at Patuiwi hot springs and boating around to Ngatirorirangi Carvings Mine Bay.
What are you excited about for the future in the Bay of Plenty?
I am excited to advance the BayTrust strategy for the future climate change - a biggie for me.