Who is Waitara alive?
Waitara Alive is an incorporated society with charitable status that seeks to support the Waitara community through:
- Providing network opportunities, professional training, updates, and skills to businesses within the Waitara area.
- Being a source of information for new businesses wanting to set up in our community.
- Facilitating “Shop Local” campaigns
Community Groups:
Support local groups seek funding to enable their operation.
Event management >
Hosting local events that bring people into Waitara.
Information centre >
Being a source of digital community information.
Community Contribution >
Governance of the Waitara Food Bank.
Waitara Alive has a Board of Trustees made up of business leaders and community minded volunteers who are committed to seeing the Waitara community thrive through business initiatives and community ventures.
Past Events
Americarna
Networking Breakfasts and Alive after 5’s
Shop Local
Christmas Parade
Waitara Pool Whanau day
Our board
Sarah Bentley-Korff
Chairperson
Sarah joined Waitara Alive with the ambition of helping out the community in other ways than she’d previously done. Sarah has been a long standing real estate agent in the Waitara community and surrounding areas with Professionals Real Estate and has enjoyed many community events that they’ve completed as ways of giving back to the community. Being a part of Waitara Alive enables more opportunity to reach out and assist many more people
Brent Abbott
Treasurer Board Member
Brent is a Chartered Accountant with experience in small to medium enterprises, self-employment and CA practice. He is a director of Unlimit Chartered Accountants where he utilises his well-rounded business experience to benefit his clients. It is also through Unlimit that Brent gives back many hours to the community, in addition to sitting on the Tikorangi School BOT.
Damon Jacobsen
Deputy Chair Board Member
Damon’s working career helps fulfil the passion he has for people, their welfare and development. Damon’s hope is to see prosperity for all in the Waitara community and believes that supporting local business growth and development in the town will help achieve this end. Being married with two children and an active member of ‘The River’ church in Waitara, Damon has a loving appreciation for whanau. He enjoys keeping fit and active, being outdoors and getting into a bit of DIY renovations.
Kura Denness
Board Member
Kura has been a Chartered Accountant for nearly 40 years and has worked in that capacity in a number of industries throughout Aotearoa with a focus on governance roles both locally and nationally. Currently, Kura is the independent Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for Stratford District Council, on the Boards of Ngati Rahiri and Te Korimako Radio Station, and she provides secretariat services to the Rohutu Trust. Kura has two wonderful sons, Rori and Lachlan, and a moko, Noah. She lives in Waitara and is active in her community, serving on the Wise Charitable Trust, and Waitara Alive boards.
Kate Beggs
Board Member
Kate is a proud local business owner with a real passion for beauty, community and seeing small towns thrive.
She loves working closely with people in the community , building genuine connections, and watching both individuals and local business grow. To Kate, owning a business is about more than just providing a service its about supporting one another creating opportunities ,and working together to make our community an even better place. Kate is proud to be part of a small town community and excited to contribute, connect and grow alongside the amazing people around her.
Lisa Hine
Board Member
Lisa is the owner & hands-on Business owner of EMBER Heating a Brixton-based business.
Lisa is passionate about supporting local people and businesses and being part of the community she calls home.
Life outside of work is centred around supporting her children through their various sporting commitments
When she’s not working or cheering the kids on from the sidelines, Lisa enjoys the outdoors, spending time with family & friends.
Community for Lisa is about supporting each other, getting involved and building strong local connections for our beautiful town.
Gina Jackson
Administrator & Events Coordinator
With a long background in Agri account management, Gina has built her career around working with people. building relationships and helping others – something that has naturally grown into a real passion for community.
Gina is a proud mum to two young children, and lives in Lepperton. She is passionate about Waitara and the people who make this community such a special place. She particularly loves organising events and seeing local families and community members come together, have fun and enjoy what Waitara has to offer. Gina believes that the people who put their time and energy into creating a thriving community really matter, and she’s proud to play her part.
