People
We are a collection of locals who enjoy getting together and solving problems. Meet our trustees and our working group - our trustees are our final decision makers representing the community, whilst the working group have been developing and implementing the housing trust's work. This is a collective effort and many others have also been lending their time, professional skills and support. We are always open to people supporting the Trust - so if you have some time to spare or some expertise and solutions that would benefit us, we would love to hear from you. You can contact us via email paekakarikihousingtrust@gmail.com
Please note, ee are in the process of updating this page to reflect recent changes in personnel.
Trustees
Tina Pope - Chair (also on working group)
Appointed Oct 2017. Re-appointed Oct 2019.
Kia ora koutou. Until recently I was chair of the Board of Trustees for Paekākāriki School, having been on governing boards in the past for Tenants Protection Association and Community Law Centre in Christchurch. I’ve worked for Housing New Zealand and as a tenancy educator in the past, and currently put my law degree to good use doing legal and technical writing and editing. I’m passionate about building strong and connected community and Paekākāriki truly is my place. I lived here 20 years ago and returned with my husband Mike and kids Olive and Louis six years ago. I believe warm, dry and affordable housing for all is a basic human right and is necessary before any other social issues can be addressed. I believe housing is about homes and communities, not capital gains. I believe tenure protection is vital for everyone and particularly for children. I feel concerned that our school roll is dropping because families can’t afford to stay here. (Tina is also co-chair of the trust and a trustee)
Murray Julian
Appointed Oct 2017. Re-appointed Oct 2019.
I learnt through my parents the importance of contributing to community tikanga, and that for any community to be successful it needs to invest in itself. Accordingly, I have had an ongoing commitment to contribute to the Paekakariki community since moving here permanently in 2001. I bring a unique combination of Governance, HR, and Operational leadership
experience of over 20 years to the trust. My commitment to this community to date has included, three years as a Playcentre session leader and Dad, seven years on the Paekakariki School Board of Trustees, and five Years as a Paekakariki Scout Leader, amongst other things I have been treasurer of the Raumati Swim Club where so many of our mokopuna have learnt to swim. I am currently the General Manager of People, Safety and Culture at Centreport.
Levi Farrell
Appointed Oct 2017. Re-appointed Oct 2019.
Levi Jean Waitarere Farrell: Tena koutou katoa, My Name is Levi Jean Waitarere Farrell. I am 27 years old and was "born and raised" in Paekakariki by my parents Karl And Beryl Farrell alongside my four older sisters. I have two boys Cypress and Rohu. We are Ngati Haumia and very proud of our whenua. After primary school (Paekakariki School) I attended College (Kapiti) for five years. I was a member of the very first Kapiti Coast Youth Council as a iwi representitive which was truly an eye opening experience for us all. I am very humbled to be given the opportunity to be involved with the Paekakariki Housing Trust with 100% support from my Hapu. Naku Noa, Levi Farrell
Mark Galbraith - Treasurer
Appointed Oct 2017. Re-appointed Oct 2019.
also on working group): I've lived in Paekākāriki for 17 years now with my partner Andrea and kids Finnian (16) and Maia (14). We have a small commercial air-conditioning company so I'd like to use my business skills to help make the Housing Trust a success. I'd like to develop the idea of social investing generally and make it accessible to supporters and people wanting to set up new projects. (Mark is also a trustee)
Holly Jane Ewens
Appointed Oct 2017. Re-appointed Oct 2019.
Musician, performer, teacher and current Paekākāriki Community Board member. I live in a blended family of 6 children and have been renting in this village I’ve been fortunate to call home for 20+ years. A home that has helped raise babies into young adults, a home that has provided a welcoming audience for gigs, fairs and festivals which I’ve been involved in. A home that proudly knows its heart lies in the word ‘community’ and fiercely defends it. The Paekākāriki Housing Trust is testament to that ethos.
Linda McLaughlan
Appointed in 2019. Re-appointed Oct 2019.
Linda McLaughlan: Linda is a published novelist (Chasing Charlie) and writer with an extensive experience in film and television. She lives with her husband Sam and two children in Paekakariki, with a passion for community. She has worked at the school as administrator, and provided her skills to the housing trust and Paekakariki Online website initiative. Linda has produced numerous films in NZ and the UK.
Sam Buchanan
Appointed Nov 2021.
Bio to come :)
Working Group
Mark Amery (communications manager): I've lived in Paekākāriki for 20 years and with Hannah Zwartz and our three children, feel lucky to have been able to buy a house in Te Miti Street. My work is centred on finding new ways for people to collectively create public space, because empowered communities create change. Recent local projects have included helping found Paekākāriki FM and now Paekākāriki Online, a web platform by the village for the village. I have worked in communications, as an arts writer, advisor and manager for many years, including many governance roles.I am co-manager of public art programme Letting Space, which explores the potential of art to work with community and create public space outside the gallery.
Mike Stringfellow: I'm from Otautahi. I've lived in Paekākāriki for six years with Tina, Olive and Louis. We live on Tilley Rd. I've been involved in government housing organisations most of my working life. I have come to believe that community housing organisations are better at providing affordable and managing housing than the government or private sector. I have been a member of Abbeyfield Porirua trying to establish housing for elderly. I want to contribute with my knowledge of housing models and products.
Helen Burch
Administration and Support
Kerren Hedlund: With Justin Corbett I have been working in humanitarian assistance, community mobilisation, advocacy, and fundraising internationally for the last 20 years. In February 2016, we moved to this amazing village. We had a choice to live anywhere and we chose Paekākāriki for the people, diversity, active community, and school. Now we've learned that these things are under threat by the housing crisis. So, we're fighters, practical, passionate and strategic. Why this fight? If this community won't fight to protect the very special thing that is all the layers of the onion of Paekākāriki , there are other interests out there that will step into that gap and strip them away.
Megan Salole
Communications and design support
Megan lends a creative hand to the Trust in the form of assisting with communications/website and amplifiying important messages. She is a passionate advocate for Aotearoa fulfilling our UN Human Rights Charter obligations for the provision of housing as a human right, and loves that Paekākāriki residents involved in the PHT are champions for solving our local housing problems one whānau at a time.
Jennifer Martin
Taja Farslow