Ensuring everyone in Manawatū experiences a comfortable standard of living

Our Story

Manawatū Community Trust was established in 2008 with the purposes of relieving poverty, providing housing, and promoting health and wellbeing.

Our Why

So that everyone in the Manawatū community can experience a comfortable standard of living.

Our How

By providing good quality, affordable housing, and sustainable facilities that contribute to the health and wellbeing of people in the Manawatū.

Our People

Our Team

Teresa Hague

Teresa was appointed General Manager in May 2022 and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Trust and driving its strategic vision.
Teresa has a background in the health sector as a Nurse, Midwife and more recently as Business Manager for the Whanganui Regional Health Network and Service Manager for the Whanganui Accident and Medical Clinic.
She holds a Bachelor of Applied Management, and a Master of Business Administration.
Teresa is committed to ensuring that MCT will continue to support the housing and wellbeing needs of the Feilding community.
“In the future I am confident that MCT will grow its role as a part of the Manawatū region’s housing response, and in doing so will increase the number houses available, attract additional revenue into the area, and generate employment/local contractor opportunities,” she says.

Donna Cribb

Donna has been a key staff member at the reception desk of the Manawatū Community Trust since November 2020.
In her role as Tenancy Support Officer, she is the first point of contact for any enquiries regarding the repair and maintenance of the MTC properties.
Donna gets great satisfaction from helping tenants when they need it, either in a practical sense or providing a sympathetic ear.
She is keenly aware of the high demand for affordable housing in the community, and says her reward is seeing tenants settled in a safe and comfortable environment.

Nigel Hartley

Maintenance Service person Nigel Hartley likes to know MCT tenants can rely on him to get things done.
A member of the MCT team since early 2022, Nigel brings with him a wealth of carpentry and general maintenance experience.
Nigel is in his element repairing, problem solving and maintaining the units to a high standard, and getting them to Healthy Homes level.
He is also involved in the refurbishment each unit receives in-between tenants.

Phil Clark

Meet…Phil Clark
Phil Clark feels he has come to the Manawatū Community Trust at the right time with the right skills. “It’s a match made in heaven,” he says.
With extensive Project Management experience, he is well prepared for the two distinctive roles of his position as Facilities and Project Manager.
“The first is mainly managing the repairs and maintenance of the various facilities of the 200+ houses the Trust stewards. The second focus is on Projects, which relates to new build developments which add to our housing stock, and also projects that relate to renovations of the existing units,” says Phil.
Before his appointment at MCT, Phil spent three years with the Homes For People Trust in Palmerston North, so he is acutely aware of the satisfaction of providing well maintained, warm and healthy homes to a proportion of the community that may have otherwise struggled to have that security.
A dedicated family man, Phil has three ‘very individual and unique’ teenage sons who he supports in their various endeavours. He and his wife also enjoy the company of their two fur children.

Victor Cheng

Victor Cheng has brought his accounting experience from the manufacturing environment to the Manawatū Community Trust in his appointment as Finance Manager. He is keen to use his skills to develop the accounting systems at MCT.
Born in China, Victor moved to New Zealand and gained his Accountancy Masters at Auckland University in 2017.
He has since held finance positions in the Dairy and Manufacturing sectors, most recently in Feilding at Proliant Health and Biologicals.
After a year of project work, Victor’s contract with Proliant allowed him to consider a supplementary part time position. “I wanted to serve my new community,” he says. “The job at MCT meant I could do both.”
“Up until now I’ve usually worked with products, it is nice to help improve the life of people.”
Outside of work, Victor volunteers for other not-for-profit organisations, and is an aspiring badminton player.

Sarah Aydon

Meet Sarah Aydon
Sarah’s extensive background in Property Management makes her the perfect fit in her role as Tenancy and Wellbeing Officer.
With a Level 4 Property Management qualification and a practical knowledge of the associated software among her skills, Sarah intends to strengthen relationships with allied housing organisations and will work closely with MCT’s other Tenancy and Wellbeing Officer.
Sarah is proud that Feilding has such an active housing Trust to look after their own. “It is lovely to see the look on people’s faces when you tell them they have a place.”
She also has a personal connection with the MCT as her Mum lived in one of the Trust’s Woodlark units for several years. “I know how important a warm and safe place to call home is.”
A mum of four daughters, Sarah loves to be active. Whether that’s through her regular gym visits, as an avid gardener or out and about on walks with her partner.

Our Board

Tyson Schmidt

Ngāti Porou and Te Aitanga a Hauiti.
Tyson was was born and raised in the Manawatū.
After qualifying as an architect, Tyson held policy management and principal advisor roles at The Treasury and Department of Building and Housing (now MBIE) and worked in the Minister of Housing’s office in Parliament.
He became a Trustee of the Manawatū Community Trust in 2016 and was appointed Chair in 2020.
In addition to his role as director of a local consulting firm, Tyson has also been a Trustee of other Council Controlled Organisations and local organisations, as well as Treasurer of Ngā Aho Māori Designers Network.
Tyson says, “My belief is that housing is a fundamental for wellbeing, something that underpins a community and how it cares for people. We are so lucky to have a Trust like ours in the Manawatū and I am committed to its future growth.”

Tracey Hunt

Manawatū born and bred, Tracey attended Massey University and Victoria University where she gained a Masters in Public Policy.
She has worked in the Local Government sector for nearly 20 years in research, community development, strategy, and management roles.
Tracey was involved with establishing the Manawatū Community Trust in 2008 and is very proud to now serve as a Trustee.
Tracey says at the time of its founding, there was great long-term vision for what the Trust could achieve for the people of the Manawatū District, and excellent progress has been made to date.
“I enjoy being part of the team that has been given the challenge of ensuring that early vision becomes reality. I believe that quality housing, health and wellbeing services are essential to our community's overall wellbeing and vitality.”

Liam Greer

Over the past 20 years Liam Greer has worked extensively in the facilities and estate management industry in senior leadership positions within social housing (Housing New Zealand), health (MidCentral District Health Board) and more recently, for the Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North.
Liam has tertiary qualifications in property, social housing policy, infrastructure asset management and Mauri Ora. He has a strong links with the region and has been a volunteer on several Boards focussed on families, mental health, and his community.
Liam is excited to be part of the Manawatū Community Trust’s mission to promote and provide housing and wellbeing services to Manawatū. He lives in Palmerston North with his wife Jannene of 25 years – they have two adult sons, one living locally, the other in France.

Joanne Shortall

As a Feilding local with a community focus, Joanne says she was honoured to be appointed a MCT Trustee in 2020.
Joanne has a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from Vic University and a Bachelor of University Studies from the University of New Mexico, USA.
She is currently a Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand member and is presently working for a Manawatū-based software company.
Joanne brings her competitive sporting nature to the MCT team and is up for the challenge to enhance the Trust’s role in providing housing and wellbeing services to her local community.

Allan Davey

Allan’s association with MCT was developed during his tenure as Project Manager for the Trust’s Clevely Wing building refurbishment.
He has since been appointed to the Board and is keen to continue the Trust’s great work to make the Manawatū District a place where people can find ‘Community’ and enjoy the friendly, supportive environment they live in.
Allan has a background in Quantity Surveying and Operations Management, and a wide range of experience and skills in the Building, Civil Contracting and Solid Waste industries, in both private and Local Government settings.
His voluntary service includes 40 years of involvement with the Salvation Army and stemming from that, a variety of ancillary roles to help support people in the Manawatū region.
Allan says he would like to see the Trust continue to provide accommodation to the elderly and disabled, but also to be involved in providing an increasing level of ‘wrap around’ care and support, to enable residents to enjoy their independence in their own home, and their own community.