'Aunty' Bea Yates won't be replaced on Rotorua Trust, says chairman

'Aunty' Bea Yates, who died this month, won't be replaced on the Rotorua Trust until next year's election. Photo / File

The Rotorua Trust will not hold a byelection to fill the position left after "Aunty" Bea Yates died earlier this month.

Aunty Bea, as she was widely known, was one of four new trustees elected to the six-member trust in November 2016.

The much loved performer, teacher and author died on September 6 from cancer at the age of 78.

Rotorua Trust chairman Stewart Edward said Aunty Bea was both a trustee and a much-loved friend.

Rotorua Trust chairman Stuart Edward. Photo / File

"We are still shocked and saddened by her passing."

He said that since she was elected, she had made a considerable contribution in helping the trust develop its kaupapa (plan) and strategic direction and this Friday's meeting will be the first since she died.

"With the next triennial elections for trustees just over a year away, in November 2019, we will not have a byelection to fill her position. The cost of a byelection, so close to the planned elections next year, is largely behind this decision."

Edward said the trust deed allowed it to operate with four trustees, so continuing with the five would meet all obligations.

This is not the first time the trust has had to consider such a decision. A precedent was set in 2002 when then chairman, Johnny Lepper, died two years before the next scheduled election and was not replaced on the board.

Bea Yates and Stuart Edward at the opening of the Haven of Peace project in 2009. Photo / File

The other trustees along with Edward are Jo-Anne La Grouw, Sandra Kai Fong, Tamati Coffey and Merepeka Raukawa-Tait. The next highest polling candidate was former trustee Lyall Thurston.

The trust, also known as the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, was established in 1994 to serve the community of Rotorua out of the sale of Rotorua Electricity Ltd – one of New Zealand's first power companies, established in 1901.

As part of the sale, it was agreed a charitable trust would provide the greatest opportunity to share the sale proceeds across the whole community.

The trust has grown its value from $32 million in 1994 to $142 million today. Each year it donates millions to different community projects, causes and individuals.