Trustee Elections Nominations have now closed
Thank you to everyone who put themselves forward to serve our community. See nominees here.
Voting now open!
From Monday 24 August, beneficiaries will start receiving their voting pack, which include:
your Trustee Election voting papers.
your Ownership Review Poll voting papers.
information about candiates and the Ownership Review.
details on how and when to vote.
Please keep an eye on your mailbox and make sure you vote before midday, Thursday 24 September.
If you are a beneficiary and have not received your voting pack by 31 August, please contact Election Services on 0800 922 822 to request a replacement.
2026 Ownership Review Poll
Every six years, WESCT asks beneficiaries whether The Lines Company should continue to be owned by the Trust. This Ownership Review Poll is required under the Trust Deed.
The independent report concluded that continued Trust ownership returns around $5.4 million of value to our community each year, and found this level of community benefit would be unlikely under other ownership arrangements.
Why does the Ownership Review matter?
The Ownership Review gives beneficiaries the opportunity to have their say on whether WESCT should continue to own 100% of The Lines Company.
According to the independent report, continued Trust ownership helps support:
lower network charges
beneficiary discounts
local ownership and decision-making
local jobs and skills
investment back into our communities.
Read before you vote
Before you vote, we encourage you to read both reports and the Trustee Letter to Beneficiaries.
Key dates
Trustee Nominations - CLOSED
Meet the candidates & ownership review info evening - Wednesday 19 August, 5.30pm
Voting papers delivered - Monday 24 August
Voting closes - Thursday 24 September, midday
Public declaration of results - Thursday 1 October
Trustee elections
The Trust is made up of six locally elected Trustees who represent the interests of beneficiaries. Elections are held every two years, with three Trustee positions up for election each time.
Upcoming Elections
September 2026
Three Trustee positions are being filled this year.
Current Trustees completing their terms on 30 September 2026 are:
Janette Osborne
William Oliver
Yvette Ronaldson
September 2028
The remaining three Trustee positions will be up for election. The Trustees whose terms finish on 30 September 2028 are:
Brian Hanna
Guy Whitaker
Olivia Buckley
Those elected will serve from 1 October 2028 to 30 September 2032.
All eligible beneficiaries will be able to vote in these elections — it’s a great opportunity to have your say and help shape the future of the Trust.
Trustee Eligibility
Rule 9 of Schedule 1 of the Trust Deed lists the following eligibility criteria for WESCT trustees:
9. Cessation of Trusteeship
A Trustee shall cease to hold office if such Trustee:
has served for the term prescribed herein as a Trustee, provided however that at each election a Trustee may seek re-election.
by notice in writing to the secretary of the Trust or if there is no secretary to the then chairperson, resigns his or her office.
becomes mentally incapable.
becomes bankrupt or enters into a composition or assignment for the benefit of his or her creditors.
is absent without leave from three consecutive ordinary meetings of the Trustees.
is convicted of any indictable offence.
is employed by the Company. Note: ‘The Company’ in this case is the Lines Company Ltd. Any staff or directors of the Lines Company Ltd would need to resign from their employment or director positions before taking up a Trustee position with the Waitomo Energy Services Customer Trust.
Section 25 of the Local Electoral Act 2001 states:
25. Candidate qualifications
Every parliamentary elector is qualified to be a candidate at every election to be held under this Act if that person is a New Zealand citizen.
This section is subject to section 58.
Section 96 of the Trusts Act 2019 states:
96. Who may be appointed as trustee
Any person may be appointed as a trustee of a trust unless the person is disqualified.
The following persons are disqualified from being appointed as a trustee:
a. a child:
b. an undischarged bankrupt:
c. a person who lacks the capacity to perform the functions of a trustee:
d. a body corporate that is subject to an insolvency event.Despite subsection (2)(b), an undischarged bankrupt may be appointed as a trustee with the consent of the court.
For the purposes of subsection (2)(c), and without limiting that paragraph, a person lacks the capacity to perform the functions of a trustee if the person—
a. is subject to an order appointing a manager under section 31 of the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988; or
b. has a trustee corporation managing the person’s property under section 32 or 33 of that Act.