Board Members and Chairs Whanganui District Council Holdings Limited location Manawatu.

Job Description Whanganui District Council Holdings Limited (WDCHL) is seeking expressions of interest from suitably experienced candidates to be members or Chairs of the Whanganui Port General Partner Limited (Port GP) and Whanganui Port Operating Company Limited (Port Op Co) Board’s. Each Board comprises three members including the Chair. Applications may be submitted for one or both Board’s and should indicate any interest in the role of Chair. The current member’s terms cease in September 2023 having been appointed for one year fixed term as Interim Boards focused on establishing both entities.

Governance Structure & Company Ownership WDCHL is a Council Controlled Organisation, 100% owned by the Whanganui District Council (Council). WDCHL is responsible for overseeing and driving the Council's commercial assets which includes Port GP and its subsidiary Port Op Co.

Port GP and Port Op co-operate the Whanganui Port Limited Partnership, a stand-alone legal entity established in 2022, which owns the port assets and Harbour Endowment land. Port GP is the General Partner in the Limited Partnership and provides the governance function for the Limited Partnership.

Port GP is responsible for the rebuilding of the port wharfs and associated infrastructure and the running of the operations of the port, in addition to the management of the Harbour Endowment portfolio. The rebuilding of the wharfs is one of four strands of work under the larger Te Pūwaha project which is aimed at revitalising Whanganui’s port and associated lower river infrastructure.

Port Op Co is a fully owned subsidiary of Port GP and is contracted to the Limited Partnership to provide the operational resources required to complete the port revitalisation project, operate the port, and manage the Harbour Endowment portfolio.

The Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) 2017 Act recognises Te Awa Tupua as an indivisible and living whole, comprising the Whanganui River from the mountains to the sea, incorporating all its physical and meta‐physical elements. The Act includes Tupua te Kawa, the four values which guide all actions and decision-making to provide for the health and well-being of both the river and its people, providing guidance to the governance and operational activities of both Port GP and Port Op Co.

Te Awa Tupua Way of Working Te Awa Tupua Act was enacted to implement the historical Treaty Settlement with Whanganui iwi in relation to the Whanganui River. This is a detailed set of legislation which includes a range of mechanisms to recognise the Whanganui River which is important for companies and the directors to also recognise. While Directors may not fully understand the legislation it will be expected that they will eventually have a practical working knowledge which includes working with the hapū collective.

Person specifications members of both Boards are expected possess, collectively, knowledge and experience of, and capability in, the following strong corporate governance experience in a multi-stakeholder environment. Strong regulatory experience including health and safety legislation and risk management frameworks. Experience in areas such as accountancy, law, risk management, commerce, port infrastructure asset management & operations, and commercial property management.

Strong relationship management skills and developing valuable strategic connections with stakeholders, including iwi and hapū relationship and engagement. Strong communication skills, including ability to reason objectively and convey ideas clearly and accurately. High capability to understand Te Ao Māori and Te Awa Tupua (the relevant Whanganui River legislation and embedded values)

Clear sense of public accountability and understanding of the relationships between the Port companies, WDCHL, iwi and the Council as the ultimate shareholder. We welcome applicants who can bring diversity to the board and successful candidates must also be willing to devote time and energy to the role, ideally, you will be domiciled in or close to Whanganui or demonstrate a strong connection to the rohe.