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Nau mai, Haere Mai. Welcome to Our Place.
About Us

We are the Waimea South Community Facility Charitable Trust. Yes, it’s a mouthful!  But we’re more than “just a Trust”—we are your community, amplified!

We’re a group of passionate individuals brought together by a deep-seated love for our incredible community. Most of us have lived in Wakefield for years, raising our children, working in the community, involved in sports clubs and community groups, etching our stories into its fabric. Now, we’re joining forces to ensure Wakefield’s future shines just as bright for us, our children, our grandchildren and beyond.

We work as a steering group, guiding this project with your input and support, and with a few key partners.  

Current members of our steering group are: Peter Verstappen, Sonia Emerson, Julian Eggers, Charlotte Thynne, Jenny Lines, Win Greenaway, Jo Cotton, Don McLean, Ryan Edwards, Neil Kitchen.

Download our Core Values Framework Document.

This core values framework report was developed at the workshop session on the 8th of February 2024. This report serves 3 purposes:

Outlines who we are

It outlines who we are as a Trust and what we stand for in the community.

Roadmap for Behaviour

It serves as a roadmap for behaviour and helps guide our actions to align with what’s most important to the Trusts goals.

Basis for Content Creation

Provides a basis with content creation for external communications.

Meet some of our current Steering Group Members
Charlotte Thynne

I grew up in a small community on the West coast of Auckland and studied and worked for many years in brain research at Otago and Auckland Universities. My husband and I moved to Nelson when our first child was born and we have now lived in Wakefield for 8 years. Over this time I have been involved with running our local Playcentre and volunteering at the school and as a Toy Library Committee member. I feel like we stumbled upon a real gem in Wakefield, what a place!

Peter Verstappen

I moved to Wakefield from Canterbury in 2013 with my wife, Sylvia, and was principal of Wakefield school from 2013 until my retirement in 2022. I’m involved in several community organisations and initiatives in Wakefield and regionally, including our local theatre company, Wakefield Country Players, and the Fifeshire Foundation. Wakefield is a fantastic place to live, and I’m determined that the community hub project will make it even betterfor us and future generations.

Sonia Emerson

Growing up on a sheep and beef farm in the Motueka Valley, there was a real sense of community and its one of the things that drew me to Wakefield when I moved back to the region with my husband Dave in 2008.  I run my own accounting firm, All Accounts Matter Ltd, from our lifestyle block in Wai-iti and have been on many community groups over the years, including Treasurer of the Wakefield School Board of Trustees.  My children are growing up here and I love the many opportunities that our local environment offers them.  I am passionate about making sure that we have great facilities for all in our community, regardless of age or interests, and that’s why I am enjoying being involved in the community hub project and am excited about the next steps in the process.

Julian Eggers

I have lived in Wakefield all my life, grown up with my 4 other siblings enjoying all that Wakefield offers. I attended Wakefield primary, Waimea intermediate and to Waimea college, which enriched my passion for visual arts. I was involved in the scouting movement for 11 years from Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and being a Cub leader here in Wakefield. I achieved through my time, the highest award in scouting, the Queen Scout. I have always felt the need to give back and see Wakefield blossom into something amazing. That’s why I have been involved in volunteering in organizations and committees such as Wakefield Apple Fair, Willow Bank Heritage Village Open Days, Halloween at Willow Bank, Wakefield Community Council, Wakefield Anzac services  and the Rural Resilience Expo 2024. Wakefield has a special place in my heart cause of the friendly, proactive, caring community it is. I believe the opportunities will be endless in Wakefield with this project forefront, enriching the unique spirit of this special community that we live in. 

Jolene Cotton

I have lived in Wakefield since buying a house here in 2004.  I have enjoyed living in the Village of Wakefield and all it has to offer, including the walking tracks, parks, river, golf course, Four Square, school, swimming pool and recently The Little Sprig, to name a few.  Our children have grown up here, have gone to Wakefield school and are now getting older.  I work as a PE teacher at à Secondary School in Stoke and have also had a large involvement in sport both as a player, manager, coach, medic, umpire and referee.  I look forward to getting the voices of Wakefield working together on this project.  

Jenny Lines

I grew up in Wakefield and now live here with my husband and 3 Children.  I am a business owner, a creative and a keen advocate for seeing Wakefield grow and thrive.  I have been involved with many local initiatives such as the building of Kainui Bike park, the co-ordination of the upgraded pedestrian crossing on SH6 and I am an active member of the Wakefield school PTA.  I think a community hub would bring so many exciting opportunities to Wakefield and look forward to seeing the project come to fruition.

Neil Kitchen

I moved to Wakefield about 14 yrs ago, from Auckland. I am originally from the UK, where I  worked in Wakefield West Yorkshire,  we saw Wakefield on the map here , came and  had a look and have been living in this fantastic community ever since. My son went through Wakefield school, Wakefield has been very welcoming to us, I saw this project and really wanted to get involved as a thankyou to Wakefield, but also to ensure the Community Hub  provides a great facility for future generations to come.

Don McLean

I am a proud Wakefield resident having lived here for over 20 years, It is a wonderful little town and a great place to raise kids. We live in Pigeon Valley. I am married to Katrina and we have four children aged from 15 to 23.  I am a school principal in Nelson and enjoy a spot of fishing when I get time, coaching rugby and potting around on our small lifestyle block. I am excited about the prospect of having a community hub in our town and am a passionate member of the steering group. 

Connect with us

Do you need more information?  Do you have ideas about what you want in a new community hub?  Do you want to be a bigger part of this great project?  Contact us here.

Be sure to follow us via social media to keep up with the latest news and events!

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