The Waitomo Energy Services Customer Trust (WESCT) is pleased to announce the results of the recent Trustee elections, which concluded on Friday, 28 March 2025. Trust beneficiaries have elected two new Trustees, Brian Hanna and Olivia Buckley, while Guy Whitaker has been re-elected for his second term on the Trust.
William Oliver, Chair of WESCT said, "We’re excited to welcome Brian and Olivia to the Trust. Their diverse backgrounds and dedication to community service will be invaluable as we continue to work towards our goals. We also congratulate Guy Whitaker on his re-election and look forward to his continued contributions," says Oliver.
Cathy Prendergast, who stood for re-election, was unsuccessful, missing out by less than 200 votes. With her term now ended, Cathy has stepped off the Trust. Oliver expressed his gratitude for her contributions,
"On behalf of the whole Trust and our beneficiaries, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Cathy. Her work over the last three years has been invaluable, and her dedication as Deputy Chair has greatly benefited the Trust."
Erin Wirihana, whose term also concluded at the end of March, decided not to stand for re-election.
The election saw a strong interest from the community, with six members putting their names forward to fill the three positions on the Trust.
This election marked the first-time beneficiaries could vote online. Despite the new online voting option, postal voting remained the preferred method, accounting for 56% of the votes received. 2,515 votes were cast, a 22% voter return, up from 14% in the 2023.
“It’s great to see higher number of beneficiaries voting. With six nominations we were hoping for a good voter turnout. The decision to offer online voting was to provide another option for beneficiaries which is more convenient for many. It’s also a good option for those leaving it to the last minute to vote. We saw 136 votes cast in the last two days, which otherwise may not have come in.”
The newly elected Trustees will serve from 1 April 2025 to 30 September 2028.
WESCT owns 100% of The Lines Company (TLC) on behalf of its beneficiaries, making TLC 100% community-owned. WESCT has over 10,000 beneficiaries, primarily residing in or around Te Kūiti, Ōtorohanga, Piopio, Mangakino, and Mōkau. The Trust is composed of six Trustees, who are elected by beneficiaries for a four-year term. Trustees; William Oliver (Chair), Janette Osborne, and Yvette Ronaldson's terms will expire in September 2026.
