Lands Trust Masterton has appointed Garry Daniell as trustee to replace the long-serving Heaton Haglund, who died recently.
Mr Daniell was the highest-polling unsuccessful candidate in the last election, held in October 2013.
Trust chairwoman Leanne Southey said the appointment was made in accordance with the trust's own Act of Parliament, which stated that an appointment should be made if a vacancy occurred more than six months before the next scheduled election of trustees.
Mr Daniell's appointment is up until the next election in October 2016.
He had previously served as a trustee from 1988 until 2013.
