Family ties to $62m Masterton trust

NEW LEADER: Lands Trust Masterton chairman John Bunny outside the trust building in Masterton.PHOTO/KELLI HOOKS

Lands Trust Masterton has appointed Masterton businessman, John Bunny, as its new chairman.

Mr Bunny, who works as an insurance adviser for AMP Insurance, was re-elected to the trust in last month's local body election, and was chosen for the role of chairman by the trust's eight members at their last meeting.

He was first elected in 2007 and has served two years as the trust's deputy chairman.

He replaces Alan Sadler, who did not seek re-election, after serving 10 years as chairman.

Two new trustees, Sandy Ryan and Rick Long, were also elected in the recent election, with Mr Long receiving the highest votes of all the candidates.

Mr Bunny said it would be "business as usual" for the trust, which was in the process of bringing the new trustees up to speed.

"It's ... managing property in a way that maximises the financial returns through educational, cultural and community grants.

"We're always looking for new projects and aim to continue to grow the community assets in our care."

Mr Bunny has historical ties to the 142-year-old public lands trust, which was formed to own and manage surplus land that was not sold to Masterton's working-class settlers.

It operates under its own Act of Parliament - the Masterton Trust Lands Act.

Mr Bunny's great grandfather, Henry Bunny, was the member of the provincial council for Wairarapa who proposed the original Lands Act that created the Masterton Lands Trust, through Parliament, in the 1870s.

His grandfather, Arthur Bunny, was also the solicitor for the trust for 30 years.

"I have got very strong connections historically. I just see my role as carrying on the work that has been done before, through generations."

Mr Bunny is also a Justice of the Peace, a Wairarapa Rescue Trust trustee and is on the finance committee of St Patrick's Church.

Property assets owned by the Masterton community through the trust hit a record $62.7 million this year.