About Us

The Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust is a non-profit organisation formed by the general public and supported by Christchurch City Council and Environment Canterbury.

For a copy of our deed and constitution Click here

For a copy of our Memorandum of Understanding between the Trust, Christchurch City Council, and Environment Canterbury Click Here

The following information sets out our structure and operation pathways:

Trust Structure

The Trust is supported at each level by Christchurch City Council and Environment Canterbury.

Trust Board Duties

The Trust Board includes the following:

* The Executive: Chairperson Secretary Treasurer Spokesperson (when different to the Chairperson); and
* Board Trustees: those elected at the AGM and /or co-opted by Board as per the processes outlined in the constitution.

The primary function of the Trust Board is to achieve the Objects of the Trust through the implementation of the Non-Statutory Management Plan for the Estuary and provide leadership, support and co-ordination of the Trust's activities through the execution of the Business Plan.

This leadership will :

* Determine Policy Direction of the Trust.
* Engage and support the Coordinator, and define and approve the Coordinator's duties
* Liaise with Working Groups, confirm priorities, and give direction towards activities that attain the Objects of the Trust.
* Receive progress and completion reports from Working Groups on projects undertaken, and establish structures within the Trust to maintain clear lines of communication between Groups within the Trust.
* Nominate a person to liaise with the coordinator and/or other employees.
* elect Chairperson from among its members at its first meeting and annually thereafter.
* appoint a Secretary and a Treasurer2 . These offices may be combined
* Review and update all Trust job descriptions:

1. For any employees of the Trust, annually at the time of performance review or
2. when requested by the Trust Board;
3. and otherwise every two years.
4. oversee the publicity of Trust activities and promotion of its Objects.

The people involved are:

Trustees
Alex Drysdale Chairperson
Alisdair Hutchison
Martin Ward
Les Batcheler
Ruth Dyson
Ron Dougherty
Karen Banwell
Martin Clements
Martin Maguire
Islay Marsden
Elizabeth Cunningham

Ex-Officio
Cr Chrissie Williams Christchurch City Council representative
Cr David Sutherland Environment Canterbury representative
Rik Tau mana whenua Ngai Tuahuriri

Support
Eric Banks Staff liaison from Christchurch City Council
Shelley Washington Staff liaison from Environment Canterbury
Linda Rutland Trust Coordinator
Leigh-Ann Crew Financial
Victoria Keene Administrator
Tanya Jenkins Projects E&P