The Trustees

Tony Hall MNZM, Chairman, MainPower Trust

Tony is the Chair of MainPower Trust.  Tony has been a Trustee since May 2003 and is a resident in Waikuku.

Tony is involved in economic development and education in North Canterbury.  He was the founding Chairman of Enterprise North Canterbury, and is also Chairman of the Community Colleges New Zealand Council, Pro-Chancellor of Lincoln University and a Commissioner on the Tertiary Education Commission.  He is also a Trustee and Chairman of the Partnership of Excellence Life Sciences, Massey-Lincoln; a Trustee on the Rangi Ruru Girl’s School Trust Board and a director of Core Education Ltd.

Tony is Chairman of the North Canterbury Sport and Recreation Trust.  Tony is also actively involved in support and sponsorship of disabled winter athletes, carrying on his late wife Gilly’s work with Adaptive Snowsports New Zealand.  Tony is a keen multi-sportsman in his own right, having completed the London and New York Marathons and the Coast to Coast as well as numerous other well-known events.  He is a member of the Coast to Coast Event Management Team and a life member of Outward Bound Trust.

Richard Allison (B.Agriculture)

Richard was first elected to the MainPower Trust in 1999 and is now Deputy Chairman. 

He obtained an Agricultural degree at Massey University. After three years working in London with his wife Jeanette, they came home to go farming, however, combined this with a career in rural banking. In recent years they have started up and run Preschools in Rangiora and Christchurch.

Richard has been a Director of Waimakariri Irrigation since its inception in 1998.He has followed the development of our Southern hydro lakes, water storage and irrigation and seen how surrounding rural communities have flourished.

Brent Hassall (JP)

Brent is a Chartered Accountant and has been in public practice in Rangiora since 1967.  He is a lifetime resident of Rangiora. 

Previously a Rangiora Borough Councillor and Deputy Mayor, Brent has also been a member of the Board of Governors for Rangiora High School, and been active in the St John Ambulance, Rangiora Fire Brigade and Rangiora Scout Group.  Brent has been a Justice of the Peace for the past 30 years.

Brent was a foundation member of the MainPower Trust when it was established in 1995.

Jim Abernethy

Jim Abernethy lives in Kaikoura where he has been actively involved in the community through numerous organisations, associations and service clubs.  Jim was an elected member of Kaikoura District Council and was Mayor of Kaikoura for six years. 

Prior to moving to Kaikoura Jim lived in Cheviot for most of his working life, during which time he and his brother Bruce owned and operated Cheviot Lime Company Ltd. 

Jim has been a member of both the Cheviot and Kaikoura Volunteer Fire brigades for 25 years and retired as Chief Fire Officer in Kaikoura.  

He was also the Kaikoura member of the Marlborough Harbour Board for 12 years.  His community activity includes voluntary work in Cheviot, Kaikoura and the Marlborough region.

Kevin Brookfield

For over thirty-five years Kevin Brookfield has operated a series of successful small businesses.  He has an accountancy background and has lived in the Amberley for over 28 years. 

Kevin owns the local Pukeko Junction Wine Centre and Gallery and enthusiastically promotes hospitality in the region.  He is a member of the Amberley Ward committee of Hurunui District Council.

Kevin recognises the ever-increasing value of a secure and efficiently run energy system to ensure the continued growth and stability of North Canterbury. 

He fully supports MainPower’s current ownership model and commits to ensuring this remains unchanged, believing it to be in the best interests of the community.

Catherine Elliott

As a Chartered Accountant, Catherine Elliott has worked in the public sector, corporate business and education.

She has experience in senior management positions and governance roles. These include being a Trustee of the MainPower Trust during 2002 and 2003. Currently she has contracting roles and lectures part-time at the University of Canterbury.

Catherine has lived in the Waimakariri District for 20 years. During that time she has been actively involved with a variety of community organisations.

Nigel Jones

Nigel brings to the MainPower Trust a broad business background and skill set, along with strength in strategic planning, driving positive change and innovation, coupled with a strong belief in supporting the community.

He has worked for Jade Software in Christchurch for over 20 years and is currently their Contracts, Bids and Project Manager.

He is also Deputy Chair and Financial Trustee of Wellbeing North Canterbury, an organisation that delivers social services district wide. He has been a Director of a successful business, a Trustee and Treasurer for a local school, and coached rugby and hockey.

Nigel has lived in North Canterbury for over 20 years and enjoys playing golf, walking his two Golden Retrievers on the beach and working on a lifestyle block, where he lives with his family.