Our trustees

Our trustees came together because they believed that their experience and connections meant that they could make a real difference for Horowhenua. Learn more about our current trustees and their backgrounds.

Antony Young (Chair)

Antony has spent 20 years primarily in London and New York advising global brands and as CEO of several media and marketing firms.   He returned back to New Zealand with his family, and settled in Horowhenua in 2016.  Antony is extremely passionate about the region and its opportunities, working on a number of business and community projects that showcase why the Horowhenua is a great place to live and work. Antony is the Co-Founder of The Digital Cafe, Chair of the Horowhenua Taste Trail Trust, and on the Board of Business Kāpiti Horowhenua, that oversees the Electra Business Awards.  He and wife, Nancy, are the proud owners of the Noho Blueberry Farm just north of Levin.

Ron Turk

More than fifty years ago, Ron Turk and his family moved to Foxton where they founded their successful poultry business, Turk’s Poultry. Since then, Ron has helped transform a small egg business into a prosperous company employing almost 220 people - as well as raising three children. A strong believer in ethical and sustainable farming practices, Turks has been accredited as a Conscious Consumers supplier. Ron applies the same ethics to his community, with Turk’s supporting a variety of community groups and initiatives including the Foxton Rugby Club, the Horowhenua Taste Trail, Manawatu Boating Club and Rescue Helicopter.

Te Aroha Jennings

Originally attracted to the Horowhenua for the relaxed lifestyle it offers, Te-Aroha and her husband have truly made it home and see it as the ideal place to start and raise a family. With over 15 years’ experience as a lawyer in the private and public sector, Te-Aroha has more recently been providing policy and regulatory compliance advice and corporate secretarial services to clients as co-director of Jennings Consulting.  Te-Aroha brings her experience as both an advisor to and member of executive leadership teams, to the Trust.  She is passionate about seeing the Horowhenua reach its potential as a place to live and work, and looks forward to being able to give back to the community in her role as Trustee. 

Larry Ellison

Raised in Raumati and now living in Foxton Beach, Larry Ellison and his wife Jane have been a part of the Horowhenua community for years. The Ellisons have owned a number of service stations throughout the Horowhenua and in 2000 started Rural Fuel, an award winning business which distributes fuel to farmers around the lower North Island. Larry loves all things agriculture and is involved in dairy farms around the region, as well as a number of startup businesses and agritech companies including Levno,  Biolumic and  Zeddy. An active community member, Larry is a life member of the Foxton Volunteer Fire Brigade, was a major backer of Te Waiora Community Health Service in Foxton, serves on the board of the Te Hinaki Trust.

Sarah Ryan

Sarah Ryan has worked with youth every day seeing the issues that we face as a community. She's extremely passionate about the potential that can be unlocked in rangatahi  and is keen to unlock the potential of the wider Horowhenua community in her role as trustee.

Sarah's current role as an Education Advisor sees her working closely to empower and upskill tamariki and Kaiako in schools around the wellbeing and physical education space.

Justine Street 

Justine (BBS FCA) is a Fellow Chartered Accountant and a Director of Colbert Cooper Limited, a chartered accountancy practice located in Levin, providing business, accountancy and tax services to clients throughout the region and across NZ.  She is currently Deputy Chair of Horowhenua Learning Centre, Trustee of House of Science, Trustee of Foxton Area Community Medical Trust and on the Board of Trustees of Koputaroa School. Justine has been part of the Horowhenua for over 40 years and is passionate about supporting local businesses and community groups to improve the wellbeing of the region.  Justine lives at Foxton Beach with her husband and son

Find out more about becoming a trustee

Becoming a trustee

We’re looking for leaders with diverse life experiences and skill sets that want to help us to move Horowhenua forward.

As a community-owned Trust; our strategy, resources and performance are directed and controlled by our trustees. We welcome suitably qualified people to register their interest in becoming trustees.

The Trust Deed requires only:

• Serious commitment to working for the Horowhenua community in all its facets and amongst all its peoples; and,
• Willingness to undertake the duties required by the legislation – these are not onerous, and the main requirements are being “straight”, working openly and honestly for the purposes of the Trust in all matters.
• Anyone not excluded by NZ’s Trust legislation can become a trustee.

The trustee appointment process is set out below and in the Trust Deed.

What criteria do trustees consider?

The things the trustees consider when making appointments are simple. They include:

• Mandatory requirements set by the Legislation - New Zealand legislation has some requirements applying to all Trusts (no children, generally no undischarged bankrupts, etc)
• Composition of the Trust (how many trustees)
• Diversity and the need to represent all voices
• Continuity amongst trustees and institutional knowledge
• The Trust’s succession plan
• Knowledge and experience

Professional development

We recognise that governance and being a trustee is a journey. We all must start somewhere, and we all need to keep learning. To support this, the Trust operates various development and training programmes.

How to register your interest

Every quarter we review registrations and interview potential candidates. When vacancies arise, you will be considered.

To register your interest, please contact us

Getting involved

Alongside our trustees, we need the support of our community to move Horowhenua forward. If you have expertise in a particular area and want to support your community please get in touch. 

Stay in the loop

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