Five new trustees have been appointed to the Eastern and Central Community Trust - Robyn Rauna, Bev Edlin, Margaret Millard, Bruce Mills and Jane Poa. They bring a range of skills to the community trust:


• Robyn Rauna, Gisborne, has a law degree, a post graduate diploma in management studies and is currently studying for a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Waikato. Robyn is acting General Manager of the Tairawhiti Community Law Trust and operates her own consultancy business. Previous positions include Housing New Zealand’s Rural Housing Manager for the East Coast/Eastern Bay of Plenty region and working on various projects at Te Puni Kokiri. She is chairperson of the Tairawhiti Maori Business Network, and a ministerial council member of the Tairawhiti Polytechnic. Robyn is involved in a range of Iwi and marae activities, including being a marae trustee of Rongopai Marae.


• Bev Edlin, Levin, has a doctorate in business administration, specialising in governance, and holds several corporate directorships across a range of industry sectors. She is involved in the Horowhenua Maori health organisation Pfnek Health Services, the business consultancy Phae Consulting and is a part owner of Valeo International Limited, which provides governance training, assessment and mentoring. Bev is currently chair of community support group Horowhenua Supergrans, past chair of Friends of Refugees as Survivors, and has been a board member of Wellington Aftercare Inc, which assists intellectually impaired to live in society. She has been involved in a number of regional economic development initiatives, has extensive senior management experience covering business and business governance, education marketing and communications. She lives at Ohau, near Levin, where she grows and markets limes.

• Dame Margaret Millard, Palmerston North, has received a knighthood honouring her rural community leadership and is a Justice of the Peace. She is national treasurer of New Zealand Red Cross and leads the Rural Family Support Trust operating throughout Manawatu and Horowhenua, providing independent financial support and advice to farming families affected by adverse rural events. Margaret was the first female president of Manawatu’s Provincial Federated Farmers and is a past national president and treasurer of Rural Women New Zealand. She is a ministerial, independent appointee on the Nursing Council of New Zealand, served 15 years on the Open Polytechnic, eight as chairperson, and was a member of the Massey University Council. Margaret has a dairy and beef farm, milking 500 cows.

• Jane Poa, Hastings, also a Justice of the Peace, has a post graduate diploma in business administration, is Chief Executive of CIFICAP Trust, a Hawke’s Bay based Maori and Pacific Island health and social service organisation, and is involved in various health sector groups. Jane is a board member of Volunteering New Zealand, Deputy Chair of Healthcare Aotearoa, a member of the Pacific Reference Group of Health Promotion Forum, a Synod executive member of Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. She is involved in numerous collaborative partnerships with government agencies, including Hawke’s Bay District Health Board.

• Bruce Mills, Feilding, is a farmer and farm consultant, with a background in rural banking and finance. His own farm is a 120 hectare sheep and cattle fattening property. He has chaired the Manawatu Farm Monitor Programme’s community group, is currently chairman of the Halcombe/Stanway Rural Water Scheme, which is a governance committee under the umbrella of the Manawatu District Council, and is a trustee on the Westhoe Farm Training Trust. Bruce has also served on the Feilding High School board of trustees, including six years as chairman. He has supported community organisations, including the Royal NZ Foundation of the Blind, IHC and Arohanui Hospice, and has been a player, coach and manager of various rugby teams.