The Role of the Trustees

A deliberate blend of expertise and practical experience has been sought in establishing the make-up of the Trust which is currently under the Chairmanship of Mr Murray Weakley.  The Trustees meet every six weeks to set policy and procedure and monitor the Trust’s operational and financial performance and its obligations and agreements with sponsors.

The Trust is committed to keeping administrative overheads to a minimum, reserving funds for operational costs wherever possible.  There are only two full-time staff employed by the Trust, with hundreds of hours being given free of charge by the Trustees and business community to support the service.

The Trustees

Murray Weakley - Chairman
Murray is a partner in the law firm Anthony Harper specialising in property, commercial, corporate and banking law.  His particular areas of expertise are commercial agreements, banking law, property law, trust and tax law and local government law. In 1992 he taught the income tax and estate planning law course at the University of Canterbury.  He is a notary public and secretary of the South Island Society of Notaries and the Vice-President of the Canterbury Asthma Society. He was appointed as a Trustee in 1998.

Neil Blanchfield - Deputy Chairman (Canterbury)
Neil Blanchfield is an Event Manager in Christchurch. His company, Great Events, provides management services for a range of large, mainly sports-based, events. Neil has been self employed in this role since 1995, and for 8 years prior to that was the Executive Director of the New Zealand Touch Association. He is a life member of the Marist Albion Rugby Club and of the Canterbury Touch association, which reflects his years of volunteer sports administration service. Neil is a Rotarian and chairs the committee which runs the highly successful Rotary Clubs' Children's Charity Ball.

Trevor Watts - Deputy Chairman (West Coast)
Trevor is a born and bred West Coaster living in Greymouth. As Manager of the New Zealand Mines Rescue Service on the West Coast, he is a person who literally knows the West Coast 'inside out'.
As well as spending 23 years in total with NZ Mines Rescue, Trevor has also spent 23 years with NZ Fire Service, 8 years as Deputy Chief Fire Officer.

David Duns - Treasurer 
Managing Director of Duns Ltd, Business Consultants and Chartered Accountants, David has developed a long-standing base of business services and consultancy clients. His area of expertise includes establishing the most suitable structure for the sale and purchase of business’s and properties and the financing of these activities. David also has extensive experience in dispute resolution and business negotiations. He enjoys associating with the firms many clients and continues to act for his first client. David was appointed as a Trustee of the Trust in 1998 and was appointed Treasurer of the Trust at that time.

Barry Bragg -  Trustee
Barry is the Chief Operating Officer for Solid Energy NZ Ltd, responsible for all of Solid Energy’s mining, transport and marketing activities in NZ and international markets. Solid Energy’s head office is in Christchurch and it is a major contributor to the Christchurch economy through contracts with Lyttelton Port and Kiwirail as well as professional service contracts with many Christchurch companies. Solid Energy is also a major employer on the West Coast. Barry has been a Trustee since 2002 and is also the Deputy Chairman of CRL Energy Ltd and is a Director of the NZ Coal Association and India/NZ Business Council.

Jack Renton -  Trustee
Owner and operator of Renton’s Hardware in Hokitika, Mr Renton brings a wealth of business expertise to the Trust.

Barrie Cooper - Trustee
After retiring as Executive Director of the New Zealand Security Association after ten years, Barrie recently relocated to Christchurch with his wife Lyn to be closer to family.
Barrie has a long history working in the 'not for profit' sector and with trusts. He is a past trustee of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, past chairman and present director of the international charity Radio Lollipop New Zealand Ltd. This charity cares for children in hospitals throughout the world. He is a director of the New Zealand arm of the Australasian Society of Association Directors. Barrie operates a Corporate Cab franchise in Christchurch and is a Justice of the Peace.