Meet the Trust
We are a collection of locals who enjoy getting together and solving problems. Meet our trustees and our contractors. Our trustees are our final decision makers representing the community and they develop and implement our mahi and vision. Our manager keeps everything ticking along behind the scenes running operations and projects. Friends of the trust help with specific projects or skills in whatever capacity they can. 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.
Trustees
Photographed: Tina Pope, speaking at the PHT Mexican Fundraiser Dinner
(Credit: Bob Zuur, 2024)
Tina Pope
Co-chair
I’ve worked in the justice and housing sectors for four decades. I've managed properties for Housing New Zealand, worked as a tenancy educator and advocate, and sat on governing boards at Christchurch's Community Law Centre and Tenants Protection Association. I’m passionate about being part of ensuring Paekākāriki remains a strong, connected and diverse community, and Paekākāriki truly is my place. I lived here 26 years ago and returned with my husband Mike and now-grown kids, Olive and Louis, 15 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 am committed to justice for Ngāti Haumia ki Paekākāriki, who through the loss of their land are fragmented and have just one remaining section in the village. I know the solutions to our housing problems lie here in this special community.
Photographed: Mandy Preston (Credit: Bob Zuur, 2025)
Mandy Preston
Co-chair and privacy officer
I’ve lived most of my life in Wellington. My parents came from Scotland and England and I grew up in Island Bay. I now live in Smith street with my partner Sue and Nelly the cat. We have 5 daughters and many mokopuna and whanau who visit and stay. My daughter Sarah has also lived in Paekākāriki. I feel very lucky to live as part of a diverse and resilient community where people take care of each other. Work wise, I have experience in nursing/ health systems, social work, HR, mentoring and policy. I enjoy governance and am currently on the Volunteer Kapiti Board. Te Tiriti o Waitangi underpins the way I live and work. I’ve always worked against oppression. I have supported people’s rights to pay equity, safe and secure housing, gender identity and non - violent environments. I am pleased to be a member of the Paekākāriki Housing Trust.
Photographed: Terry Fenn
(Credit: Terry Fenn, 2025)
Terry Fenn
Trustee
I grew up in Tūranganui-a-kiwa Gisborne but have lived in the Wellington region for many years. Our move to Paekākāriki in early 2024 coincided with my stepping out of full-time employment. After a career in education, including teaching, governance and latterly as a public servant focused on curriculum and assessment development, the kaupapa of this organisation really resonates with me, especially its focus on equity. Contributing to the mahi of the Trust is something I now have more time and energy for as we settle into this remarkable community.
Aja Farrell
Trustee & Ngāti Haumia ki Paekākāriki representative
My name is Aja Farrell. My mother and father are Beryl and Karl Farrell. I am 37 years old and have 2 sons - Khana Farrell who is 19 and Riley Farrell who is 17 - and one daughter, her name is Kahe Te Rau O Te Rangi she is 11. I have a loving partner of 20 years, his name is Terry Rea.
Photographed: Anne Woodside, speaking, at the PHT Mexican Fundraiser Dinner
(Credit: Bob Zuur, 2024)
Anne Woodside
Trustee
I am Irish and came with my young family from Belfast, at the height of the troubles via Australia, to Aotearoa in 1986. We started in Tawa and have slowly moved up the line to our final resting place. The paradise that is Paekākāriki. We moved here in 2013 to a home that we could adapt for our son Andy who had Primary Progressive MS and to be closer to our daughter and her family. I thank Andy everyday for bringing us to this amazing village and the community of wonderful people that make it so special.
I am a Social Worker and therapist and outside of my paid employment have always been interested and involved in community initiatives to support disabled people, refugees, mothers and children.
Stable, secure and affordable housing is a human right and makes a huge difference in the life of any child or adult.
Jack McDonald
Trustee
Te Whakatōhea, Taranaki Iwi, Te Ātiawa, Te Pakokohi, Ngāti Ruanui
I am lifelong resident of Paekākāriki, with my family having lived in the village since the 1950s. I currently live on Haumia Street with my partner Kelsey and our babies, Te Kare and Te Aronui. My interest as a trustee of the Paekākāriki Housing Trust is in supporting my Ngāti Haumia ki Paekākāriki whanaunga and in resisting further gentrification of our community. Working class whānau should be able to continue to afford to live here, and the Trust has done important work in support of that. With a professional background in Māori politics and progressive campaigning, I currently work in the union movement.
Murray Julian
Co-treasurer and trustee
My name is Murray Julian and I have lived in Paekākāriki for 25 years. I came here because it was a fantastic place to raise a family and a lovely place to be.. It is still both of those things, and my children attest to that! But it is now much harder for a young family like we were, or older people on fixed income to come/ stay here due to rising rents and house prices. The PHT was formed to help reverse that trend. It has already done some great work to find and develop some affordable and sustainable housing options in Paekākāriki and to support Ngāti Haumia. I have become a PHT trustee to help add to this mahi and to help see our school and community grow again.
Ange Reweti-Davis
Trustee
My partner Roanne and I spent 24yrs in Paekākāriki renting homes and raising our children and mokopuna but due to rising rent we had to move out in 2024.
I remain passionate about the village community and fear that our rangitahi have had to do likewise as the cost of living has made renting expensive in the village.
I work for a social housing provider and understand the challenges we as a country are facing and I want to do my part for our future generations to be able to live on their whenua amongst their whānau growing up amongst a community that supports them. Ngā mihi.
Photographed: Sue Peglar and Mark Galbraith,
at the PHT Mexican Fundraiser Dinner.
(Credit: Bob Zuur, 2024)
Mark Galbraith
Co-treasurer
Mark has raised a family in Paekākāriki with his wife, and is committed to ensuring everyone has a home.
Trust contractor
Daphne Eriksen
Manager
I am a people-centered, community-minded person with skill, passion and drive to improve the wellbeing of those around me through the development and support of mana-enhancing kaupapa for present and future generations. I have an extensive background in business, operational and project management, spacial and environmental design, herbal medicine, and have worked in frontline positions identifying housing need and opportunities within the Kāpiti Coast District. I am dedicated towards creating tangible, sustainable outcomes for my community.
Photographed: Daphne Eriksen
(Credit: Bob Zuur, 2025)