Women stepping up

Lucy Cruickshank is hoping to bring change to the Masterton Licencing Trust.

Traditionally the domain of men, the Masterton Licensing Trust Board has two women hoping to bring change to the currently all male board.

Mena Antonio and Lucy Cruickshank are the only women among nine candidates vying for six spots on the board in this year's local body elections.

The Masterton Licensing Trust owns 75 per cent of Trust House, which has many businesses and properties around Wairarapa and puts money back into the community via grants. There have only ever been two women on the board in the trust's 66-year history, the last being Josephine Maxwell in 1986.

Mrs Antonio first put her name forward in the 2007 elections, breaking a dry spell of female nominations.

She plans to snap up a position on the board after narrowly missing out in the last election in 2010.

She said the trust plays a key role in the community. "The trust makes some very important decisions."

It's important to have fair representation on the board, said Mrs Antonio.

Whoever is elected has to have the skills and expertise, and not just because they are a woman, she said.

Former Mayor of Masterton Bob Francis nominated Mrs Antonio for the position.

This is an important endorsement, she said. "It's important that men know that other men are supportive of women."

A qualified lawyer and mother of two, Mrs Antonio has been serving on the Tararua Foundation board, which is a part of Trust House.

She said her experience serving on several boards gave her the skills needed to make good decisions.

She has a background in education and currently is mentoring senior film students on a youth video project featuring Wairarapa young people in positive and creative activities, supported through her work with Toi Wairarapa.

Newcomer Lucy Cruickshank said she decided to give it a shot after retiring chairman of the trust Brian Bourke put out a public call for more fresh blood on the board.

"If he, [a board member] of 39 years, is saying we need young blood, that's what we require."

Miss Cruickshank runs Innov8 Aotearoa, a marketing consultancy she established four years ago. She believes her marketing skills will benefit the businesses the trust owns.

All of the groups she has been involved with, like swimming group Masterton Masters, have benefited in some way from trust grants and she feels it's her time to give back.

She said women can add value to the board and enhance board dynamics.

"There's some interesting benefits to having women on boards."

They increase revenue, she said.

Only six out of 38 candidates in Masterton's local elections this year are female. In the region, 23 out of 48 candidates are female.