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Appointments to Age and Accessibility Working Party and Te Huinga Taumatua confirmed

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PUBLISHED: 16 MAR 2026
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Appointments to NPDC’s new Age and Accessibility Working Party (AAWP) and Te Huinga Taumatua have been confirmed ahead of their first meetings of the term, this week.

AAWP Chair, Councillor Sam Bennett, says the strong community response reflects the importance of age and accessibility issues across the district.

“After a thorough and robust selection process—one that saw a record number of applicants—we have appointed five external members to join the NPDC Age and Accessibility Working Party.

“The depth of lived experience these individuals bring to the table is exceptional, and it will greatly strengthen the group’s advocacy and advisory work.

“I look forward to working alongside the Age and Accessibility Working Party to support and advance the interests of our age and accessibility communities,” he says.

The five appointees are:

  • Evie Thorn – representing the youth sector.
  • Geoff Aiken and Richard Anderson – representing the aged sector.
  • Etilvia Jerkovich and Dr Kiri Fortune - representing the disability sector.

Its role is to monitor Council activities related to accessibility and age‑friendly matters and to provide advice to Council. It does not hold decision‑making powers.

The first meeting of the AAWP is on Thursday 19 March at 2.30pm.

Meanwhile those nominated by iwi to sit on Te Huinga Taumatua have been confirmed as follows:

  • Vicki Kershaw  - Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Tama.                                            
  • Raymond Tuuta - Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga.                          
  • Tamzyn Pue - Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Maru (Taranaki) Trust.           
  • Jacqui King - Te Kāhui o Taranaki Trust.                                               
  • Anaru White -Te Kotahitanga o Te Ātiawa Trust.

Cr Gordon Brown will co-chair with an iwi representative, yet to be decided.                                 

Te Huinga Taumatua’s role includes identifying key cultural, economic, environmental and social issues for Māori, and making decisions where delegated.

It provides strategic advice to Council, supports Māori participation in decision‑making, helps set cultural priorities for long‑term planning, and receives deputations and hears views on matters of significance to Māori.

Its first meeting of the term is Wednesday 18 March at 10am.  Agenda available in the council meetings section of our website.

At a glance

  • In December last year, the Council decided to establish the Age and Accessibility Working Party and that it will be in place for 12 months before being reviewed.
  • Iwi representatives on Te Huinga Taumatua are nominated by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Tama, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Maru (Taranaki) Trust, Te Kāhui o Taranaki Trust and Te Kotahitanga o Te Ātiawa Trust.
  • Te Huinga Taumatua was established in 2017.

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Page last updated: 09:48am Mon 16 March 2026

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