Arts role for Mayor Foon

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

AFTER serving on the New Zealand Rugby League board for the three years until 2014, Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon has now switched codes, taking up a new role as a trustee of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand.

Mr Foon’s appointment sees him join seven other trustees, among them fellow Gisborne representative Derek Lardelli, who has served since early 2013.

Foundating marketing co-ordinator Anna Edgington says Mr Lardelli recommended Mr Foon as being “a real connector of people and cultures”.

“We try to get as many experts in from different walks of life and different areas of the country as we can,” she says.

“We want to connect with as many arts appreciators as possible.”

Together the trustees support the foundation in its role of encouraging and managing philanthropic support of the arts.

A “dabbler” in artforms from painting to singing, Mr Foon says his passion for the arts is illustrated by his role as chair of the region’s Art In Public Places committee.

“I am impressed by the good work the Arts Foundation does throughout New Zealand,” he says. “I look forward to participating in growing the fund to help more artists in our very creative country.”

The Foundation says that, as president of the New Zealand Chinese Association, Mr Foon has strong relationships with related communities.

“He is passionate about connecting the Asian creative community and keen Asian philanthropic community to add more value to the diversity of our nation’s creative minds.”