New leadership

Former Timaru District mayor Damon Odey (Ngāti Mutunga) is the new chairman of Te Aitarakihi Society Inc and is excited about extending its support for the community. Te Aitarakihi has always had two trusts running alongside one another, land and business, but to avoid complications they have been split into two entities under one umbrella, business development manager Dave Jack said. ‘‘We now have the business arm as an incorporated society, and we have kept the land part as the Te Aitarakihi Whenua Trust. The Whenua Trust takes on the kaitiaki role with the focus on guardianship of the land and assets,’’ he said. Odey said he was humbled to be asked to join the board as a trustee in 2020 and then to become chairman. "It’s all about connecting with the community and delivering more services to the community." Odey is also on the building and development committee which has developed a master plan to extend the Bridge St complex using existing buildings and attaching new buildings.