New Appointment to Priority One Board
Frank Aldridge, Chair of economic development organisation Priority One, has announced the appointment of Hemi Rolleston
to its Executive Board. Mr Rolleston, who is the Chief Executive of Te Awanui Hukapak Limited, was one of eight
candidates standing for four places on the board.
Also re-elected to the board were Mr Aldridge, who is the Managing Director of Craigs Investment Partners, Mark Cairns,
Chief Executive of the Port of Tauranga, and KPMG Partner, Glenn Keaney.
Priority One is the economic development organisation covering Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty. The organisation
was established by the business community and receives a significant part of its funding from business membership,
making it a unique structure for an economic development organisation in New Zealand. It is also contracted to deliver
economic outcomes by Tauranga City and Western Bay of Plenty District councils.
Mr Aldridge was pleased with the high level of interest from Priority One members in standing for board positions. The
electoral turnout also drew strong interest, with 70 per cent of registered members taking part in the vote. He said
“This is a clear recognition of the relevance of Priority One in building our economy’s depth beyond an historic
reliance on population growth as a key driver, as well as an indicator of strong and supportive membership from the
business community.”
Praising the skills and experience of Priority One’s board members, Mr Aldridge said “While the governance aspect of the
Executive Board is very important, we also look to board members to bring with them strong levels of experience. Most
importantly, their strong business and political networks contribute strongly to the achievement of successful outcomes
in the attraction and retention of skilled and talented people, and highly productive businesses to the Bay”.
Mr Rolleston’s company manages kiwifruit investments on behalf of a number of Tauranga-based Maori trusts, while also
being the largest shareholder in the country’s publicly-listed and largest kiwifruit post-harvest operator, SEEKA
Kiwifruit Industries. He holds a Bachelor in Management Studies and post-graduate arts qualifications from the
University of Waikato and is a member of the Institute of Directors. He is affiliated to both Ngati Ranginui and
Ngaiterangi tribes of Tauranga Moana.
Also on Priority One’s board are Carol Ward, ZESPRI International, Dave Macfarlane, Cucumber Software, Stephen Town,
Tauranga City Council, Graeme Boyd, Trimax Mowing Systems, Bill Holland, Holland Beckett, Doug Sutton, University of
Waikato, Glenn Snelgrove, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Fraser Lellman, BDO Tauranga and Murray Denyer, Cooney
Lees Morgan.
ENDS