Mount Wellington Trust Hotels Ltd

Mount Wellington Trust Hotels Ltd (MWTH) is the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of Mount Wellington Licensing Trust (MWLT). MWTH exists to generate profits for MWLT as its 100% shareholder. In accordance with its Constitution, the Board of MWTH has overall legal responsibility for MWTH.

MWTH has recently sold its two property and business assets, The Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre and The Panmure Historic Hotel. Since these property sales, the company has appointed a local fund manager to manage its investment portfolios that currently total nearly $40 million.

MWLT was created under statute with its objectives and responsibilities established in the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. MWLT has adopted the group strategic purpose "Invest in our community”. Six Trustees are elected to MWLT every three years through a public election process. The latest election was
in 2025.

Besides its ownership of MWTH, MWLT also controls the Mount Wellington Charitable Trust (MWCT), a charitable entity. MWLT’s purpose is to distribute the profits made by MWCT and MWTH to the community. 

MWLT appoints Independent Directors to the MWTH/MWCT Boards (The Board), based on the mix of skills and experience required. The Board in turn appoints its own Chair from any of the (usually four) directors/trustees. Following the 2025 sale of its long-held hotel assets, and the change of core business to overseeing an investment portfolio, the attributes required of MWTH/MWCT Board members have also evolved.

The current MWTH/MWCT Chair is retiring from the Board in early 2026, creating this new vacancy.

Directors/Trustees are required to have the relevant skills and experience required to govern a company and related trust that

1. has diversified asset portfolios of nearly $40 million; and
2. is tasked with delivering a long-term return on these assets for its shareholder to invest in its community.

The ideal candidate is likely to be able to demonstrate all or most of the following:

• Solid understanding of the law relating to Licensing Trusts and Community Trusts and success in navigating their legal complexities
• Experience at a governance or strategic level with Licensing Trusts or Community Trusts
• Experience in chairing significant Board committees or as Board Chair
•  A strategic mindset and a strong ability to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders
• An affinity to Mount Wellington and a commitment to giving back to the community

The successful candidate may have the following:

• Appropriate qualification in investment management and practices

The successful candidate will also be able to demonstrate:

• Governance maturity
• Leadership and strategic vision
• Informed decision making
• Ability to ‘disagree agreeably’ at the Board table
• Financial and business acumen
• Risk management experience
• Integrity, courage and high ethical standards
• Alignment with our values

The successful candidate must act independently, challenge constructively, contribute to the board's collective decision-making process and will usually be expected to support agreed board positions and decisions.

Each Board meets six to nine times per year, for approximately 3 hours, and holds up to two workshops or strategy days per year.

Appointed Directors may expect to be appointed to some or all of the Board’s three committees:

• Investment Committee
• People and Performance Committee, and
• Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.

The three committees each meet four times a year, each meeting typically two hours long.

Directors are expected to be able to allocate sufficient time for reviewing board and committee papers, financial reports, investment proposals and reports and other updates as circulated, as well as relevant stakeholder engagements, and to be available (within reason) for ad-hoc Board or Committee meetings and special projects as required.

We anticipate the role starting on or shortly after 1 June 2026.

The appointment will be for a term of three years and, with potential to extend or renew terms as mutually agreed with the Board and shareholder, in line with the Board’s agreed process.

The role is open to those living in New Zealand, while a preference for those living closer to Auckland/Mount Wellington is preferred.

Please email your Covering Letter and Curriculum Vitae/Governance Résumé to Elaine Porter: elaine@westlakegovernance.com

Applications close on Friday 27 March 2026.