Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust NZ Announcement: New Board Appointments
The Grandparents Raising Grandparents (GRG) board of Trustees is delighted to announce two new board appointments. Pru
Etcheverry has taken on the role of chair, and Niwa Nuri is joining the board as a trustee.
Pru Etcheverry brings strong governance experience to the role with a background in the corporate and NGO sectors. She
was formerly CEO of Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand and she currently owns an advisory business, Advocacy Answers New Zealand. Pru is also
director for the charity RAW, and chair of Te Ira Kāwai Auckland Regional Tissue Bank.
Pru says “I am excited to be appointed chair of GRG, an organisation that undertakes outstanding and vital work
supporting and advocating for grandparents and grandchildren who really need GRG’s help.”
Niwa Nuri brings to the board an extensive background in governance with both private companies and NGOs. He was
formerly chair of Waikato Trust (2013-2018) and is currently a council member and Deputy Chair on the governing body of
the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec), a trustee of Te Arawa Lakes Trust Board and a director of Tu Tonu, a
rehabilitation and health centre. Of Te Arawa and Whakatoohea descent, Niwa “strongly supports GRG’s mahi, focusing on
supporting grandparents and whanau caregivers and ensuring resilience and vibrancy for our communities.” Niwa and his
wife are raising two members of his wider whānau.
GRG helps grandparents and their grandchildren in situations where they are unable to be raised by their parents and the
alternative is state or foster care. The trust provides support services, information, advocacy, advice and carer
education programmes for grandparents. This enables them to achieve positive life outcomes for the children and young
people in their care.
Jo-Anne Thomas is stepping down as chair after providing excellent governance and steady guidance over the past three
years, during which she has overseen a period of major change and transition in GRG’s operations. She will continue in
her role as trustee.
ENDS