Evan Cottam is no stranger to the Taranaki community. He is chair of the annual Naki Run Amuck, a highlight of the Urenui Beach calendar. He has helped raise thousands of dollars for the Taranaki Coastguard, Taranaki Surf Lifesaving and Taranaki Land SAR. Evan brings to the Trust his extensive financial and management experience, including 30years public practice as a Chartered Accountant and the last 19 years as a Financial and Investment Adviser. In January 2020, will take the helm as Chairman of the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust, an organisation he has been a Trustee of since 2011.

Darrin brings extensive business, operational and governance experience to the Trust. Owner of The Plymouth International Hotel and Auto Lodge Motor Inn, Darrin actively contributes to the Taranaki business community. Chair of the New Plymouth Girls’ High School Board of Trustees for 10 years, Darrin is also chair of several community boards, including the Taranaki Musical Theatre Trust and the Music Innovation Trust of Taranaki.

Peter is the Executive Director of McDonald Real Estate Ltd, a real estate firm with seven offices throughout Taranaki. Peter is currently a trustee of the Taranaki Health Foundation; a member of St John Ambulance Central Board; the Chairman and Trustee of Aged Care Central Ltd and a life member of Hospice Taranaki and a life member of REINZ.

Formerly the General Manager for the Rescue Helicopter, Andy also spent six years working for the service as a crewman, after initially volunteering with the marine team. A servant of the region, he is currently General Manager at Wild for Taranaki. Andy is looking to bring his previous experience working on the Rescue Helicopter to the board table.

He tangata, he tangata – Ask Peter what his most important resource is, and he will reply with the well-quoted Maori proverb:It is the people, it is the people. With a career in banking that spans 35-years, Peter is a successful businessman and understands the importance of service in the community. He takes an active role with other Taranaki community groups, schools and sporting bodies and is fiercely proud of the service provided by the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust.

Living in the Eastern Taranaki settlement of Huinga, Brendan has a close association with the rural Taranaki farming community and the challenges that steeper contour, adverse climatic events and developing infrastructure can present to our rural community members. Passionate about people, Brendan has enjoyed being part of teams who have operated within the NZ dairy sector, and for a number of years worked on international dairy industry ventures in Ireland, China and South America. Locally Brendan was instrumental in the retention of the Dairy Industry on-farm research capability in the Taranaki province and the driving force behind the creation of Dairy Trust Taranaki, of which he was the founding chair. Brendan is committed to contributing where he can, to ensure the Taranaki region has a sustainable and industry leading rescue helicopter service.