Against a background of acrimony and changing times, what is believed to be New Zealand's longest-running regional HIV and AIDS support support organisation has been wound up. The Northland AIDS Network formed twenty five years ago, in 1988, to provide education, support, care and advocacy for people living with HIV or AIDS and others in Northland whose lives have been affected by the epidemic. "Most of us were lay people," says the final and now ex-chair of the Network's Trust Board, Harry Guitry. "In the end we didn't have the expertise of an organisation such as Body Positive when it comes to channeling clients to the resources they need. None of us had the time available to do that sufficiently well and about five years ago we got down to just three trustees after people drifted by the wayside. We rather lost our sense of purpose and drive." Changes in accountability and administrative processes required by such official oversight bodies as the Charities Commission and Inland Revenue have also contributed to the organisation's inability to both comply with with legal requirements and to keep up a high standard of service. Guitry says one of the lowest points came when it was realised the trustees were having meetings to comply with official requirements rather than helping clients. It was, he says ruefully, "the tail wagging the dog." A breakdown in some relationships surrounding the board has for some time been understood to have had a negative impact on the organisation and its management. Just over two years ago the trust board decided to try to amalgamate with Auckland-based Body Positive and to this end signed a memorandum of understanding with Body Positive. However, Guitry says delicately, "there was concern from previous trustees that we shouldn't be doing this." GayNZ.com understands the acrimony became divisive and, in some instances, deeply personal. However Guitry would not be drawn directly on this aspect of the board's recent history. But he does confirm that difficulties within the board emerged recently when, he says, some board members "engaged in completely inappropriate behaviour" by leaking information to past board members who were agitating against the board. Additionally, Guitry says he believes some trustees served too long on the board, "impeding changes" which might have been made. However, having decided to formally hand the baton to Body Positive, at its last meeting the nine members of the board a month ago unanimously passed a motion to cease operating. "The accountant has signed it off, the lawyers have done their work and our funds and work have been handed over," Guitry says. A key bone of contention in the winding up of the Network and passing on of its assets, responsibilities and volunteer base to be managed by Body Positive has centred around money. A bequest from the estate of a gay man who died of HIV-related causes early in the epidemic had for years been managed to provide income for the Network and will now be managed and utilised by Body Positive. Despite criticisms voiced by detractors of the board's decision to wind up and evolve its responsibilities to Body Positive, the fund, Guitry is at pains to point out, will still be bound by the same stipulations as to its use as it has since it was first donated. It will continue to be specifically used to benefit people in the Northern region as the benefactor intended. The Northland AIDS Network's assets will be managed by Body Positive on behalf of the New Zealand Collective of People Living with HIV, a coalition of peer support and advocacy groups which also includes Positive Women and the INA Foundation. "This larger body will be better able to respond to the ongoing epidemic in the Northland region, while ensuring Northland representation in delivering their service," the board said in a final statement. The Trustees say they would like to thank "all those who have given their wonderful support throughout the many years, and they look forward to that same support continuing."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 24th December 2013 - 10:23am