9.30AM: Four new trustees were yesterday elected unopposed to the board of the NZ AIDS Foundation, triggering concerns that the election process mandated in the Foundation's trust deed requires modification. Hamish Allardice of Wellington, Peter Browne and Peter Taylor of Auckland and Larry Jenkins of Northland/Auckland are the new board members, joining existing members Paul Bohmer, Mark Henrickson and Cameron Law. The fifty members who gathered for yesterday's Annual General Meeting acknowledged that the current election guidelines did not anticipate there being the same number of candidates, or fewer, than vacant positions. This could leave the way open for 'rogue' elements to easily join the board without membership scrutiny. The board undertook to investigate solutions for the future, but voiced its appreciation of the genuine commitment the four board members-elect were offering to undertake. The retirement of four members this year sees the board now without an accountant or communications professional amongst its ranks, and for the first time in many years, no Maori member. Outgoing board Chair and spokesperson Hoani Jeremy Lambert hopes people with needed skills will be found to advise the board. He acknowledges that the lack of a Maori presence on the board is a concern, especially with the non-replacement of long-time NZAF kaumatua Henare Te Ua who died earlier this year. "It's the board's view that we need to take a more holistic view, not just of the needs of Maori men who have sex with men, but also the needs of Maori staff," says Lambert. He says the board is setting up a working group to review how best to meet these needs.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Sunday, 25th November 2007 - 3:01pm