Trust Horizon Trustee nominations now open for Whakatāne and Kaingaroa Village areas

2025 is an election year for Trust Horizon, with nominations for two Trustee positions in the Whakatāne and Kaingaroa Village constituency now open, as of Wednesday 25th July.

The public has four weeks to nominate their chosen candidates, before entries close on Wednesday 23rd July. Nominations will then be put to the vote on October 1st this year, in an election to be decided by Whakatāne and Kaingaroa Village’s electricity consumers.

Since its 1994 beginnings, Trust Horizon has approved over $50 million worth of grants, invested into businesses and community groups across the Eastern Bay of Plenty. In 2015, the Trust achieved 100% ownership of Horizon Networks – a move followed in 2020 by an increased focus in high-impact investment that leads to long-term positive change.

Six Trustees (four elected, two appointed) sit on the board, responsible for ensuring the Trust continues to achieve its mission of transformational investment in the community. Each elected Trustee holds their position for a total of four years, with an election held for two Trustees every second year.

“As Trustees, our main job is figuring out how we can better fund the community to achieve outcomes they otherwise couldn’t,” says Trust Horizon Chair and appointed Trustee, David Glover. “It’s a great privilege to see all the different applications coming in, and to play a role in making these new opportunities happen.”

While Glover’s own experience includes company directorships and professional governance, board experience is not a requirement of the role. “There’s a broad range of skills around the table, including backgrounds in law, health, engineering, retail, and education,” says Glover. “The right people can come from anywhere, as long as you have a vested interest in serving the community.”

Trustee nominees must be able to commit to attending an almost-full-day meeting each month, along with preparing  beforehand. The role also includes opportunities to attend the occasional conference, and to meet with the hard-working locals behind the organisations, clubs, charities and businesses that the Trust invests in.

“The Trustees are integral to the strategic direction of the Trust, and have an important role to play in serving the community,” says Derek Caudwell, Trust Horizon Chief Executive. “Experience in the electrical industry isn’t required. Rather, the ideal nominee would display strong teamwork, great people skills, and have a genuine passion for creating better outcomes in the Eastern Bay’s communities.”

The public now have the chance to cast their nominations, ahead of the election on Wednesday 1st October, 2025. Eligible candidates must be over 18 years old, and a resident of the Whakatāne or Kaingaroa Village areas.

To nominate a candidate, visit Election Services for an interactive nomination paper, or visit the Trust Horizon website to download a PDF. To have nomination papers emailed or posted to you, email info@electionservices.co.nz or phone 0800 922 822. Papers can also be collected in person from the Trust Horizon office, 5 Richardson Street, Whakatāne.

A candidate information evening will be held at Trust Horizon on 9th July at 5:30pm.

Nominations will close at 12 noon on Wednesday 23rd July, 2025.

If more than two nominations are received, an election will be held, with Whakatāne and Kaingaroa Village electricity consumers able to cast their votes. Voting packs will be issued to all eligible voters by post or email, starting from Wednesday 27th August, 2025.

To find out more, please contact the electoral office at 0800 922 822.