Six new trustees were appointed to the Community Trust South by Associate Minister of Finance, Shane Jones, in December.

They are Samuel Grant, Bharat Guha, Margot Hishon, Maria Pera, Warren Skerrett and Bridgette Smith.

They join existing trustees Stephen Canny (acting chair), Mel Montgomery, Leanne Samuel and Leon Hartnett.

Samuel Grant is an investment adviser from Gore. He is the son of former Awarua Member of Parliament Jeff Grant, who was also a former Community Trust South trustee.

Bharat Guha is the Chief Financial Officer at the Invercargill Licensing Trust. A former Southern Institute of Technolgy deputy chief executive and CFO, Guha was appointed to the Tertiary Election Commission in October last year (2024).

Margot Hishon is a past Community Trust South chair (2016-19). She is a former Clutha-Southland National Party electorate committee chair (2016) and comes from a farming and construction background.

Warren Skerrett is from Queenstown and is also a past Community Trust South trustee (2016-19). A former financial adviser, Skerrett represents Ngāi Tahu, as a trustee, on the Whakatipu Wildlife Trust.

Maria Pera is a Mana whenua endorsed trustee. She was one of the driving forces behind the completion of the Mataura Marae's carvings. She is also a director of the Southland Regional Economic Development Agency, Great South.

Bridgette Smith is a visual artist with a focus on documentary photography and video. She has also been a Southern Regional Chair of the National Party.

Acting Chair Stephen Canny welcomed the diverse skillsets the new appointees bring.

“With representation from throughout our region, and expertise in community engagement, finance, and advocacy, we are well placed to support the Southland Murihiku community,” he said.

Chief Executive Jackie Flutey said she was thrilled to welcome the new and reappointed trustees to the Board.

The first board meeting of the year is scheduled for Wednesday, February 12.

Community Trust South, governed by the Community Trusts Act 1999, provides significant funding to a wide range of community organisations.

Since its inception in 1988, it has distributed $235 million in grants.