3 minute read
Chairman’s Message
by NZBPT
Trust Operations
Like so many other organisations the Trust has been impacted by COVID-19, Notwithstanding the disruption caused by the virus and 2020 being a General Election year, we were still able to reschedule and deliver two parliamentary seminars. I would like to gratefully acknowledge both our presenters and the corporate members who permitted their staff to attend these sessions during those challenging times.
The work of the Trust through its parliamentary seminar programme, plays an important role, enabling corporate members to increase their staff’s understanding of our country’s government and parliamentary processes and it was encouraging that we were able to maintain the momentum before the dissolution of parliament in September and in between lockdowns!
Our tertiary funding program was further expanded during the year in review and we are pleased to announce that James Heath is the inaugural recipient of the University of Otago prize, Kiri Picard, the inaugural recipient of the University of Auckland prize and Phoebe Slee inaugural recipient of the University of Waikato prize.
Eilish Espiner, the 2019 recipient from the University of Canterbury and James Heath were both able to join us at our second parliamentary seminar and we look forwarded to welcoming our other recipients to seminars in 2021.
During the year the Trust moved to a new accounting package with Munro Benge Chartered Accountants commencing as the Trust’s accountants in January, The Secretariat has also seen an IT upgrade with the added ability of working remotely. The website is also receiving a further upgrade.
Trustee Council and Board
There have been a number of people changes At the Annual Meeting, Gretta Stephens from New Zealand Steel Ltd was re-elected for a further term of three years.
Simon MacKenzie from Vector Limited stood down and was replaced by Guy Waipara, General Manager Generation & Natural Resources from Meridian Energy.
Hon Simon Bridges MP resigned from the Trustee Council in May and was replaced by Todd Mullar MP who subsequently resigned in July. We were pleased to welcome the Hon Judith Collins MP as a Trustee in the same month.
Trustees leaving at the General Election were Clayton Mitchell (NZ First) who was also a Board member representing ‘Other Parties’ in the Parliament and Gareth Hughes of the Green Party Aotearoa New Zealand. I am pleased to be able to report that, following the General Election, Dr Deborah Russell MP and Tim van de Molen MP have remained members on the Trustee Council and Board. Ricardo Menéndez March MP will represent the Green Party Aotearoa New Zealand and Brooke van Velden MP for ACT New Zealand, on the Trustee Council.
New Corporates
Trust membership has now reached 70 with four new corporate members having joined us during the year. I welcome back Microsoft Corporation together with Synlait Milk Limited, the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation and Kiwi Property Group Limited.
Membership of the Trust is much sought after and all our corporates members are encouraged to take full advantage of their membership by hosting Business Attachment programmes when requested and ensuring their staff are regularly participating in the parliamentary seminars.
Acknowledgements
The contribution our Corporate members make to the Trust and its activities is significant and your on-going support is essential for the continued operation of the Trust.
I wish to place on record the Board’s appreciation of those Ministers, parliamentarians, staff of the Cabinet Office, Ministerial offices, Office of the Clerk, the Labour Leader’s Office, the Ministry of Education and the Parliamentary Press Gallery, who gave freely of their time to speak at one of our two seminars in July and August. The contribution you make is highly valued by our corporate attendees.
My thanks also to the Rt Hon Trevor Mallard, Speaker of the House of Representatives who acts as the President of the Trust in hosting our parliamentary seminars and events and ensuring our continued presence in the Parliamentary complex; and to my colleagues on the Trust Board for their valued input and support. To the Trust Secretariat, thank you for your efforts in somewhat challenging circumstances over the past year.
