2019 Trustee Nominations
Nominations are open for trustees for the Home Birth Aotearoa Trust. We welcome nominations from all members of our home birth community and are looking for members who can bring a diverse cultural and professional representation to the board. Trusteeship is a voluntary position, strategically managing the activities of the trust in collaboration with our existing trustees and employees. Becoming a trustee is a valuable and honouring opportunity, where you can utilise your passion, knowledge and skills, whilst meeting new people and gaining new skills.
Please encourage the people that you look up to in your home birth community and help us to spread the word .
Home Birth Aotearoa is the national organisation representing the regional home birth groups throughout Aotearoa. Home Birth Aotearoa would not exist without the regional associations whom it represents and who help deliver our key activities on a regional level.
Currently there are around 25 regional groups, ranging from legal entities to informal groups. All are actively involved in supporting home birth in their regions.
Home Birth Aotearoa Trust is a charitable trust which was formed on 26 July 2007. The Trust was formed to enable collective accountability and sustainability of a national home birth organisation via a legally recognised entity. National Hui are convened annually with members of all regional groups invited. The AGM is held at the same time. A conference is hosted biennially (every two years) by a regional association.
We welcome your application to the board.
Our Goals:
1) That home birth is recognised and promoted as an option for the place of birth for the majority of NZ women and their whanau
2) To increase the number of New Zealand women and their whanau choosing to birth at home
3) To have a strong and flourishing network of active home birth groups throughout Aotearoa
4) To have input into maternity strategy and policy- making to enable empowering birth experiences and outcomes, and healthy, thriving families
5) To uphold the articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
How we work:
The structure of Home Birth Aotearoa has the trust at the core – regional home birth groups contributing to each other and the trust and vice versa. The trust holds the contract for national delivery of home birth coordination and collectively the HBA community has input into the planning and delivery. We use collaborative, consensus decision making to operate.
What does trusteeship involve?
Trustees are responsible for the governance of Home Birth Aotearoa Trust. They are accountable to the national network of home birth associations and support groups (Home Birth Aotearoa) to set and achieve goals which support the goals of the Trust. This includes accountability for financial transactions (including funding, expenditure and assets) and legislative and compliance issues relating to the provision of any services. Further details on who we are, and what we do, are on our about us page.
Trustees will need to be able to commit to:
timely participation in the online agenda of board business via Facebook and email
a minimum of 5 hours monthly dedicated to governance, online communications and meetings. Its is important that volunteers can commit to at least 5 hours, more is welcome when you have the energy.
A 1-2 hour monthly meeting by teleconference which must be attended as a minimum requirement. If unable to attend then contributions prior to the meeting and follow up/acknowledgement of the minutes are required.
attendance at national Hui annually, and trustee hui annually
some trustees have specific accountability e.g.: Treasurer, Facilitator, and/or contributing to initiatives
thinking at a national level, providing guidance, clarity and direction for long and short-term goals
Trustees will have:
a passion for home birth, accompanied by a minimum of 5 hours of investable time per month
a commitment to supporting and empowering women, their whanau and their communities in their choice to birth at home
a commitment to Home Birth Aotearoa
an ability and commitment to expressing their own opinions and perspectives
an ability and commitment to working constructively with others, sometimes from different backgrounds and points of view
the support of their families in undertaking a trusteeship
the support and endorsement of their regional home birth association or support group
Anyone who is a member (or the equivalent) of, and is endorsed by a Home Birth Association or Home Birth Support Group in Aotearoa.
Previous governance or committee experience is helpful but not essential.
An annual honorarium is not currently paid to trustees, however reimbursement for Hui travel is.
Please take a moment to be really honest with yourself as to whether you have the time to commit to being a trustee.
The Existing Trust Board:
The trust board is governed by up to 8 trustees, with a quorum of 5, under a trustee deed established in 2007.
Copies of the trust deed are available on request.
Current trustees:
1 Sian Hannagan – Dunedin Home Birth Association, Vacating Seat
2 Harriet Moir – Vacating Seat
3 Sharon Knightbridge –Westcoast Home Birth Association, Vacating Seat
4 Eva Neely – Chairperson
5 Alison Barrett – Hamilton, Vacating Seat
6 Kirsty Wilkinson – Christchurch Home Birth Association
7 Karen Walker – King Country Midwife
8 Tammi Heap – Manawatu Home Birth Association, Vacating Seat
Home Birth Aotearoa Trust is seeking the appointment of 3 Trustees.
Currently there is no limit on the amount of terms a Trustee can be nominated and elected for.
How to Apply:
Please complete and return this nomination form by 30 June, 2019
ONLINE NOMINATION FORM
TRUST DEED DOCUMENT
PRINTABLE TRUSTEE NOMINATION FORM 2019
via email to: admin@homebirth.org.nz
If you require further information, please contact Alesha Hobbs at admin@homebirth.org.nz
Trustees will be contacted shortly after applications closed and announced in July. They will then be ratified at the National Home Birth hui in October/November 2019.
