Meet your new Trustee: Clinton Gapper

Clinton Gapper took his seat at the trust table last month after being elected in september. We sat down for a quick chat.

 

What prompted you to put your name forward for the Trust?

I guess with Uncle Denis resigning, I thought now would be a good time to put my name forward. The old man [John] was a former trustee at one stage too and it just seemed like the right time. I grew up in Christchurch, kind of in the shadows and away from it all, and I’ve always wanted to get more involved. Moving up here was the perfect opportunity to do so.

So how long have you lived in Picton?

We (wife Nicola and tamariki Nikita and Lily) moved up here in October last year. We had bought in Picton a few years before and had been waiting for a job transfer to come up [Clinton works at KiwiRail]. Nothing did and then just as we were contemplating selling, I managed to get a transfer. We’re really happy here. Nikita is at Marlborough Girls’ College and Lily is intermediate age at QCC [Queen Charlotte College]. I spent a lot of time here as a kid, with Nana, who lived at the marae at Omaka. So, it’s been nice to connect again, but on a different level. Both my daughters have been involved in Mana Rangatahi and loved every minute. They’ve made new friends, met new family.

They come home and tell us all about it and can’t wait for the next one. They’ve thoroughly enjoyed it and it’s been great for them to get to know who they are.

What do you see as the main roles of trustees?

Advocating for the people, and just trying to grow, doing our best to grow and keep things on track. For me, I just want to do the best that I can do. I have no agenda other than to see the iwi flourish.