Newly appointed Waipareira Trust Board Member
Raymond Hall

Newly appointed Waipareira Trust Board Member
Clint Rickards

Chairperson for the Trust Board Josie Smith welcomed 250 whānau members at Hoani Waititi Marae to learn of achievements for the past year as well as directions the Trust will take in the future.

Four Trust Board members were announced at Waipareira’s annual general meeting on Wednesday evening.

Raymond Hall and Clint Rickards are first-time elected members to the Board with Moyna Grace and Evelyn Taumaunu been reappointed – having already served many years to the Board of Trustees.

Raymond Hall is considered a freshman to the organisation but the Te Atatu resident is determined to carry out the vision Te Whānau O Waipareira has. “I can fully appreciate both John’s vision and the strategic vision of Waipareira. I have lived in Te Atatu all my life and have always aspired to be part of Waipareira,” Mr. Hall said.

Of Ngati Whatua descent, Mr. Hall is employed at Mason Clinic Regional Forensic Psychiatry Services and coaches the under 17’s Auckland rugby league team.

Clint Rickards - of Tainui Descent, Serving Member on Tainui Tribal Parliament Te Kauhanganui, Treaty Negotiator, Previously held a high ranking role at NZ Police, Admitted to the Bar in 2008, and Solicitor at the Auckland District Court, Clint started a strategic advisory role with the executive team of Waipareira in 2009. He completed his role as Kaiwhakahaere of Waipareira in September 2011 which allowed him to put himself forward to assist the Whanau at the Governance level.

Both candidates have a strong interest in bringing their skills, knowledge and experience to the Board,”

Chief executive for Waipareira Trust John Tamihere said our future will focus on lifting our tamariki and building on outcomes for whānau. “We will set the foundations to a better start in life for our tamariki. We aim to lift our children’s achievements by investing more time and money in services, like Kip McGrath education centers,” Mr. Tamihere said.

The Trust is now into its 28th year of operation and working towards the next 25 year plan with more emphasis on developing ways to improve Māori growth and success.

Mr Tamihere said Waipareira’s state of the art IT system is world beating technology. “We are currently rolling out within our whānau service system a tool which tracks and records whānau and their outcomes.

Deputy chief executive Diane Tuari said Waipareira has met key objectives in 2009 – 2012 Strategic Plan with some outstanding outcomes achieved ahead of time. The Annual General Meeting is a model that allows the executive team to report on behalf of the Board to the whānau of the progress made. It is a pleasure to be in the role of serving the Whānau in their united stand as we advance into the next year,” Mrs Tuari said.