Auckland Council has appointed two new directors to the board of its council-controlled organisation (CCO), Auckland Unlimited, meaning it now has a full complement of nine members.
Councillor Christine Fletcher, Deputy Chair of the Appointments, Performance Review Committee (APR), which approved the appointments, is delighted with the calibre of its newest board members.
“I am pleased to welcome two highly experienced leaders to the Auckland Unlimited board who will be very well placed to help us get the best outcomes from Auckland’s wonderful arts and culture sector.
“We had such strong interest in these roles from some very qualified applicants and I’m pleased to be able to officially announce our successful candidates: Alastair Carruthers and Hinurewa (Hinu) te Hau.
“These appointments will help fill several skills gaps that were identified on the Auckland Unlimited board, in particular experience in the arts and culture sector and bringing a deep understanding of te ao Māori and other strategic perspectives.
“I am confident that both Alastair and Hinu will add immense value to the board and will benefit all Aucklanders through their work,” says Cr Fletcher.
The two appointees were selected through a robust screening process, before being approved at June’s APR Committee meeting.
The APR Committee is responsible for all appointments to the boards of CCOs, in accordance with the council’s Appointment and Remuneration Policy for Board Members and the Local Government Act.
Alastair Carruthers was also appointed to the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board at the same meeting.
Auckland Unlimited is Auckland’s new economic and cultural agency, formed in late 2020 through the merger of Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA) and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED).
About the new directors
Alastair Carruthers
Alastair Carruthers (CNZM) is the co-founder and director of Homeland, a food embassy based in Auckland. He is a member and was the interim chair of the Services Workforce Development Council for the Tertiary Education Commission and was recently appointed to the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board and as a Trustee of Cornwall Park.
Alastair is a former council member and interim CEO of Unitec. He was Commissioner of the official NZ exhibition at the 2017 Venice Biennale of Art and has over 20 years’ prior experience as the CEO of two large NZ corporate and commercial law firms.
He has been Chair of the Allpress Espresso group, Co-Chair of Te Papa Foundation, Chair of the NZ Arts Council and its investment board, and a member of supervision boards for the Transport and Statistics Ministries.
Alastair Carruthers
Hinurewa (Hinu) te Hau
Hinu is of Ngati Hine, Whakatohea, Ngati Kahungungu, Rereahu Ngati Maniapoto, Tuwharetoa, Ngati Raukawa descent.
Hinu has extensive experience in strategic and advisory roles in New Zealand's creative sector.
She specialises in connecting culture to economic outcomes, focusing on the relationship that culture and creativity have for communities in the creation of local economic development initiatives.
Hinu was a member of the Workforce Development Council interim establishment board for Toi Mai (Creative, Culture, Recreation and Technology) and most recently appointed to the Services Workforce Development Council for the Tertiary Education Commission.
Hinu has established start-up businesses, organised cultural festivals and developed partnerships and programmes to facilitate community change.
She is an expert in business strategy, governance and cultural management, with a focus on fostering social-cultural networks.
Hinurewa te Hau
