Board appointed for new ARC subsidiary
22 June 2004 The Board of Directors for Auckland Regional Holdings, announced today, features a solid line up of
professionals with experience that spans both public and private sectors.
Auckland Regional Council Chair Gwen Bull, says that together, the new directors designate bring the necessary skills
and experience that will help ensure Auckland Regional Holdings (ARH) is in a position to operate effectively and
efficiently from day one.
“These directors bring a wealth of experience that will enable ARH to meet its responsibilities of owning and managing
the $1.3billion worth of assets, including shares in Ports of Auckland,” she says. “We have the right mix of skills and
experience across a range of activities, and across both the public and private sectors.”
ARH will take over from Infrastructure Auckland (IA) from 1 July 2004 when the Local Government (Auckland) Amendment
Bill takes effect.
The six ARH directors designate, selected by the appointment panel are: Judith Bassett – ARC Councillor and senior
lecturer of history at the University of Auckland. Charles (Chas) Cable – independent corporate advisor and past
director of investment banking at Macquarie New Zealand. Peter Hubscher - former Managing Director of Montana Wines
Limited, current director NZ Wine Institute and NZ Symphony Orchestra. Dr Joce Jesson - Director of Research
Development, and Principal Lecturer at the Auckland College of Education, current director of Infrastructure Auckland.
Susan Paterson - Director of Transpower New Zealand and Tower Health and Life, who has previously sat on the Energy
Efficiency and Conservation Authority board. John Robertson - currently Chair of the Infrastructure Auckland Board, and
former MP for Papakura.
The appointment panel responsible for selecting the board was made up of three ARC councillors and two external
representatives. More than 70 applications were received, a number well in excess of those usually received for
directorships in New Zealand.
The Appointment panel chair, ARC Councillor Bill Burrill says that all applicants were of a high standard and
evaluating applicants based on pre-agreed competencies is what has allowed the panel to select the best people for the
job.”
Cr Burrill also says that the appointment of ex Infrastructure Auckland (IA) board members will provide an element of
continuity between IA and ARH, helping to ensure a smooth transition into the new entity. The ARH board will be
responsible for a range of activities, including the preparation of a Statement of Intent between ARC and ARH, and the
development of ARH’s long term funding plan.
All six appointees will remain ‘directors designate’ until legislation is passed and ARH is established. Once the Bill
comes into effect, all Directors will be formally appointed.
As part of a family of organisations, ARH will work closely with the ARC and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority
(ARTA) – a second subsidiary of the ARC to be established on 1 July.
ENDS