Brown takes museum post

By Mary Anne Gill

Andrew Brown has been appointed one of two Waipā District Council representatives to the Te Awamutu and District Museum Trust Board following the resignation of Māori ward councillor Takena Stirling.

Brown joins Lou Brown while a third councillor, Marcus Gower, sits on the trust in a personal capacity although he queried that during the council meeting this week.

“I’m confused why I sit on that. Was I an elected member?”

Mayor Susan O’Regan told Gower he was not representing council on the trust. Andrew Brown’s appointment comes as it has been revealed the relationship between the council and the trust has been chequered since 2017 when lawyers were brought in to sort out ongoing issues, many of which The News understands still remain.

The trust has not publicly filed an annual financial return nor published its trustees and, according to sources, has not formally met for several years.

Companies Office Business Registries national manager Bolen Ng said the trust was not a registered charity on the