Our Trustees

Janine is a communications and resource management consultant and mum to two sons. Currently working for Rural Support Trust and the Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective, Janine is also a director of EA Networks (Electricity Ashburton) and a former chairperson of Methven Care Trust.

After growing up in Ashburton Janine moved away for university and work. She returned to the district in 2005 to live in Methven with husband Hamish.

Janine appreciates how valuable volunteers are for a thriving community after stints on several local committees. In her spare time, she explores the countryside in her campervan and enjoys hiking and time with whānau and friends.

Tēnā koutou katoa.

Rawiri Morunga was born in Central Otago and raised across the South Island while his father worked on the hydro schemes of the 1960s and 70s. Of Ngā Puhi and Ngāti Kahu descent, his Māori and European heritage shape his life and work.

He and his wife have five adult children, four whāngai and one biological, and nine mokopuna. Grounded in Te Ao Māori and the Catholic faith, they value aroha, respect, and service to others.

Rawiri is a DAPAANZ-registered provisional member and a registered social worker with extensive experience in addiction, social services, and education, guided by tikanga Māori and whanaungatanga.

Grant Paterson joined ANZ Bank in 2015 and is a Timaru-based rural banker with over 30 years’ experience in financial services, including investment, commercial and agriculture sector lending. His experience has given him a board perspective on the economic and social issues that shape our region.

He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Banking from Massey University.

Grant was brought up on a sheep and deer farm in South Canterbury and after leaving school he worked throughout New Zealand before returning to the region in 2012.

Grant is married to Michelle and they have a teenage daughter. He is a keen sports fan and can be found following his daughter’s winter and summer sports, as well as watching the South Canterbury rugby team in the Heartland Championship.

Leandra Fitzgibbon is an experienced commercial and property lawyer and currently a Partner/Director of Tavendale & Partners (Ashburton). Leandra and her husband also run their own business, Agri Water Services.

She is passionate about community and has been actively involved in the Mid Canterbury community over a number of years, in a range of roles supporting the For Purpose sector. She is currently a Trustee of Ashburton Aquatic Park Charitable Trust, Board member for the Mid Canterbury Rugby Union and Presiding Member of the Longbeach School Board of Trustees.

Leandra looks forward to bringing her legal, commercial and real-world experience to benefit and further serve the Mid and South Canterbury communities.

Andy Grant is married with two primary school-aged daughters, and lives on the outskirts of Ashburton. He has recently finished 6 years on his daughter’s school board, including 2 years as chair. He also currently holds several other board and trustee positions and has previously held other national and regional director positions.

After working and travelling the world for a few years, Andy became a rural bank manager working out of Timaru and then had 13 years as General Manager of a large dairy farming operation in Mid Canterbury.

Andy is wanting to use his skills and experience to help the Trust do the best job for the community that is can.

Ryan has been teaching at St Joseph’s School, Timaru since graduating in 2023. Growing up on a cropping farm north of Timaru, he developed a deep appreciation for agriculture, hard work, and the importance of strong rural communities. He is passionate about empowering young people and strengthening communities, seeing firsthand the impact positive education can have on learners and their whānau.

Ryan’s connection to Arowhenua Marae began in childhood, following his Nana in the kitchen from the age of eight. At 19 he was second onto the Executive, gaining early experience in governance, investment discussions, engagement with local government, and developing key governance documents.

He currently serves on the board of Arowhenua Whānau Services, The Y Central South Island, and Te Rūnaka o Arowhenua, with governance experience across iwi, social services, and health sectors.

Charlotte Sherratt brings experience across governance, strategic leadership and community engagement in the arts, agribusiness and not-for-profit sectors. With deep roots in Mid Canterbury, she is a values-driven professional committed to supporting resilient, inclusive regional communities.

Charlotte is a co-founder and Trustee of The Artstart Foundation, where she provides governance oversight, strategic direction, and leadership in fundraising and partnership development. She has played a key role in advancing accessible creative opportunities for young people aged 15-18 across New Zealand, reflecting her passion for arts education, youth development, and amplifying regional voices within national initiatives.

Alongside her governance work, Charlotte offers strong commercial expertise, advising on global marketing and communications strategy and holding executive, board-reporting roles within the agribusiness sector. She has led major brand, sponsorship and digital transformation initiatives, brining commercial acumen together with a clear focus on community impact.

Charlotte lives in Mid Canterbury with her husband and their two children, and is passionate about supporting strong, connected communities.

Buster (Andrew) Hurst has lived in the Fairlie area all his life. He is a sheep and beef farmer living and farming near Mount Dobson Ski Field with his wife and two boys. In 2022, after a major accident on his farm, fourteen weeks in hospital and two years of recovery, he started a major fundraising drive for local charities and causes. He started with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, which had saved his life.

After that focus on fundraising, Buster has a new focus on building the capacity of local organizations and making quality decisions on grants, as a Community Trust Board member.

Buster welcomes contact from local people and says: “It only takes one driven person to make something good happen. Never give up, nothing is too daunting…..if you don’t try, you will never know”.

Living in the Waimate District for most of her life, Cara has witnessed how a thriving community supports residents and businesses to achieve. As a Trustee on Ahu Community Trust, Cara sees this role as supporting the region of South and Mid Canterbury to thrive.

Cara has held various roles supporting her community while utilising her banking and agribusiness expertise. She and her husband John are proud dairy farmers at Hunter and have three grown children who are forging their own professional paths boasted by the foundations provided to them by the South Canterbury Community.

With a background in business, Michelle has spent her working career in South Canterbury, working in two family businesses through periods of significant growth and change. She brings practical experience across construction, engineering, precast, property development and people management, along with a sound understanding of dairy farming through her husband’s involvement in the industry. Michelle also brings strong local knowledge and real-world experience.

Over the years, she has been involved in local sport in Geraldine, including netball and squash, and has participated in the South Canterbury Charity Bike Ride. She is currently a keen supporter of the Geraldine sculpture trail and loves a good garden.

At home in Geraldine, Michelle has two cats, both caught wild in Washdyke, who now help keep the local mouse population under control.