BayTrust new trustees

Two new trustees have been appointed to the board of the Bay of Plenty Community Trust _ the organisation that gives grants to community groups to strengthen the Bay of Plenty community.

The Associate Minister of Finance Dr Jonathan Coleman appointed Tauranga's Michael Christensen and Nigel McAdie of Taupo as trustees of BayTrust.

Their positions are effective from September 1, 2012.

Retiring trustees are current chairperson Mary Dillon of Tauranga and Peter Blanks of Taupo.

In welcoming the new trustees, Mrs Dillon spoke of the enthusiasm and drive that community groups inspire.

"Being a Trustee means being humbled but also being motivated every day by the aspirations and sheer hard work of so many volunteers and others striving to make the Bay a better place,'' she said.

"I have found my time here to be often challenging but always rewarding too, as I am sure you will.''

Tauranga man Mr Christensen is a current member of the NZ Parole Board and has a background in dairy farming, kiwifruit and real estate. He is a director of private companies and has an involvement in property development. Mr Christensen is a Justice of the Peace, associate member of the Real Estate Institute of NZ and 

member of the Tauranga-Te Papa Rotary.

Mr McAdie is a partner of Taupo legal firm Le Pine & Co, and his work experience includes various solicitor roles in local and central government, and private practice, in London and New Zealand.

The BayTrust Board comprises five Trustees from the Western Bay of Plenty, three from Rotorua and two each from the Eastern Bay and Taupo.

The newly constituted Board will have its first meeting in Tauranga on Thursday, September 20, at which the Trustees will select their Chair and Deputy for the next 12 months.

In the year to March 2012, BayTrust paid out more than $2.12m in grants to Bay of Plenty community groups.