Geyser trustee role for local lawyer

TRUSTEE: Chris Spargo.

Local lawyer Chris Spargo has been appointed to the Geyser Community Foundation Board of Trustees.

Mr Spargo said he was honoured to have been appointed and looked forward to helping Geyser build up permanent endowment funds for the long term benefit of the Rotorua and Taupo district communities.

"Geyser exists for the purpose of ensuring charitable gifts in the Rotorua and Taupo districts are managed as originally intended.

"People can leave money to Geyser for the benefit of the Rotorua and Taupo communities generally, or set up their own named endowment fund and direct how the funds are to be allocated.

"Funds placed with Geyser are invested and the capital retained in perpetuity. Every year the income earned on the capital is made available for charitable distribution.

"This means that gifts keep giving forever and the total amount of the gift will, over time, far exceed the original capital donation. This is a very powerful way for individuals, families or organisations to provide long-term benefits to local communities."

Foundation chairman Joe La Grouw was delighted to welcome Mr Spargo as a trustee.

"Trustees generously volunteer their time and energy on Geyser's board and committees.

"Their knowledge and dedication help shape Geyser's work and ensure we remain in touch with the communities we serve," Mr Grouw said.

Mr Spargo formed specialist law firm Blackman Spargo (rural and commercial law) with Ian Blackman in Rotorua in 2003 and has been practising for 16 years. He specialises in rural and commercial legal work, the majority of which involves legal structures, family trusts, tax advice, property transactions, subdivisions, company legal work and overseas investment. A member of the New Zealand Law Society Rural Technical Committee, he chaired and presented a paper on Fonterra at the New Zealand Law Society's Rural Law Conference last month.

Appointed by the New Zealand Law Society Waikato Bay of Plenty Branch, Mr Spargo replaces Rotorua lawyer, Helen Nathan, who was an inaugural trustee.