Who we are

The Greytown Lands Trust is governed by an elected Board of Trustees and supported by a dedicated management team, along with trusted advisors and service providers.

Together our people work towards our purpose of helping build our community to be as strong, cohesive, vibrant and progressive as it can possibly be.

As a long-standing and integral part of the Greytown community, the Trust proudly builds on over 150 years of legacy. Through focused and responsible stewardship of our assets, we are committed to delivering lasting benefits for Greytown — both now and for generations to come.

  • The Greytown Lands Trust Board is made up of six Trustees elected as Trustees by local residents.

    Trustee election occurs every three years through a poll of registered voters in the Greytown District electorate, conducted alongside local government elections.

    Trustees serve six-year terms, with staggered commencement dates. This means that at each election, only three of the six Board positions become vacant, helping maintain continuity in governance.

    The Chair and Deputy Chair of the Board are elected from among the Trustees and are reappointed annually. This ensures that the leadership remains responsive to the needs of the community and provides an opportunity for Trustees to step into or rotate through these important roles.

  • We are a statutory trust and a registered charity based in Greytown, Wairarapa, New Zealand.

    Our operations are governed by the Greytown District Trust Lands Act 1979 (as amended), a dedicated piece of legislation that outlines the purposes and responsibilities of the Trust. This Act, along with its predecessors dating back to 1871, has shaped our direction and activities for over 150 years.

    As a registered charity, we benefit from not having to pay income tax on our earnings, as all profits are used for charitable purposes.

  • Our Act
    The Greytown District Trust Lands Act 1979 (as amended) defines our purpose and governs much of our operations. It is the most important piece of legislation relevant to our activities.

    Other relevant legislation
    Consistent among other things with our charitable trust status, the scale of our financial operations, our activities in the field of property ownership and property management, and also as an employer, there is a wide range of other legislation that applies to our business. This includes but is not limited to:

    • Charities Act 2005

    • Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987

    • Local Authorities (Members Interests) Act 1968

    • Financial Reporting Act 2013

    • Income Tax Act 2007

    • Goods and Services Tax Act 1985

    • Public Bodies Leases Act 1969

    • Property Law Act 2007

    • Building Act 2004

    • Construction Contracts Act 2003

    • Resource Management Act 1991

    • Health & Safety at Work Act 2015

    • Employment Relations Act 2000

    • Holidays Act 2003

    • Privacy Act 1993

    • Trusts Act 2019

    Further information regarding this legislation can be found on the New Zealand legislation website.

Greytown Lands Trust Board of Trustees

Phil Holden

  • Phil is a widely experienced Chief Executive and Director. Earlier in his career he was Chief Executive of the Lion Foundation, later Breadcraft Limited and a range of other organisations including FMCG, sport and primary sector industry groups.

    He runs his own consultancy and executive contracting practice with a strong interest in strategy, culture, and leadership.  

    Since 2021, following a term as a Board member, Phil has Chaired the Greytown Lands Trust. He also holds other governance positions – chair of Wellington Rugby, director of the Wool Research Organisation NZ, director of the Hurricanes and trustee of the NZ Wool Industry Charitable Trust.

    Phil is a commerce graduate and completed his Master of Business Administration degree at the University of Auckland. He is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

Derek Williams

  • Derek was elected in October 2022. Derek lives in Greytown and is semi-retired. He was born and raised in Canterbury.

    Early in his career, he held general management positions in the public sector and in the office of the State Services Commission before joining Ernst & Young, a major accounting and management consulting firm, where he became a partner. He subsequently formed a management consulting company with local and international clients focussed on strategy and performance improvement in the commercial sector.

    Before moving to Greytown Derek spent much of his leisure time in the Wairarapa, tramping, fishing and generally enjoying the country life centred on Greytown.

    He is currently working with several businesses in the Wairarapa in advisory roles.

Andy Holmes

  • Andy was elected in October 2022. Andy was born and bred in Greytown and has a long involvement with the community including running the 70-year-old family business, Holmes Construction Group. Andy is passionate about the well-being of the town and its’ residents. He has been a long-term volunteer and is actively engaged in recreational and sporting groups in Greytown, which gives him a strong understanding of the views of the community .

    Andy has recently retired from the construction business and now has the time, energy and desire to put into the Greytown Lands Trust and is looking forward to what lies ahead. Andy’s spare time is centered around his family.

Steve Meyrick

  • Steve was elected in October 2022. Steve is a Greytown orchardist who has lived in and breathed Greytown his entire life. He has volunteered with the Greytown Volunteer Fire Brigade for 35 years and held the role of Fire Chief for eight years stepping down in 2023.

    His family-owned orchard – which he has managed for almost 30 years – has flourished under his management compared to the many that once thrived in our district and have now disappeared.

    Steve is a very passionate Greytown resident and is always looking out for his community.

  • Anna was elected in October 2025.  Anna grew up in the Longbush Valley and has called Greytown home for more than 25 years.  Her children were educated at Greytown Primary School, and she and her husband have both been involved in volunteer roles within Greytown.   

    Anna is an experienced business executive with prior roles in the financial services sector in New Zealand, Australia and Asia, and roles in consulting and the NZ Public Service.  She has deep experience in Human Resources both in specialised and generalist positions, and has managed large teams with a strong focus on integrity, ethics and values based leadership.  She brings prior Board experience with a Economics Research organization.  Anna is currently in full time employment in Wellington, and is a passionate Greytown resident, keen to give back to her community.

David Brosnan

  • Elected October 2025.

    I moved to the South Wairarapa 30 plus years ago with my partner (Penny Elliott) and children to establish an apple and olive orchard.   In late 2023 we moved to our new permanent home in Greytown.  

    Until 2023 I commuted into Wellington as a public policy advisor/analyst and manager, working for (or with) government agencies with an interest in housing and property markets - mainly Kainga Ora and its earlier iterations but with stints with the Treasury, the Department of Prime and Cabinet Policy Advisory Group and MBIE.

    I have a range of skills and expertise, including:

    - tertiary qualifications in Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Business (including at the post graduate level)

    - hands on skills from owning a small orchard and cider making business 

    - project initiation and management experience

    - business case analysis and preparation - including financial analysis and obtaining funding approval

    - preparation of analysis and advice for Ministers/Cabinet and Chief Executives/Boards 

    - I am analytical, innovative and enjoy problem solving.

    The Trust has been an asset to the Greytown Community since its establishment in 1871 and plays an important role in funding local projects, initiatives and organisations.  Successful organisations are the result of capable people working together as a team.  I have the enthusiasm and skills to add value to the Trust’s goals and am excited about the opportunities for the Trust to contribute to Greytown’s vibrant and progressive future. 

Anna Cassie

Greytown Lands Trust Management

Helga Perry Greytown

Helga Perry

  • Helga started with the Trust in July 2013 as the Trust’s Administrator working part-time.

    In July 2021 Helga took on the role of Trust Manager and has the responsibility for keeping the Trust’s operation running as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

    Helga is supported by service providers contracted to the Trust.

Callum Mitchell - Rightway Ltd

  • Callum supplies accounting services and advice to the Trust.

Jake Olsen - Craigs Investment Partners

  • Jake is based in Auckland and looks after the Trust’s managed funds portfolio.