MEDIA RELEASE

Watercare Services Limited
Shareholders’ Representative Group
Chairman, Dr Bruce Hucker

20 December 2002

Three new directors for Watercare

Three new directors were appointed to the board of Watercare Services Ltd at its Annual General Meeting today.

The chairperson of the Shareholders Representative Group (SRG), Auckland City Councillor Dr Bruce Hucker, says Mr Graeme Hawkins, Ms Catherine Handley and Mr Patrick Snedden have been appointed to the board, following recommendations from the SRG.

Mr Hawkins has extensive experience in senior management roles in the private sector, and extensive experience as a board chairperson. He is currently chairperson of Robinson Industries Ltd and is a member of a number of boards, including Balance Agri-Nutrients, Cavalier Corporation, Fonterra and Horizon Energy Distribution. In the past, Mr Hawkins has held senior roles in Fletcher Challenge and was chief executive of Dominion Breweries in the late 1980s.

Ms Handley has experience in general management in the public and private sectors, including from her role as an executive director of Fletcher Challenge Building Steel Group. Ms Handley was also a senior manager of the Whitcoulls Group in Australia and New Zealand in the early 1990s, and has held general manager roles at Palmers Gardenworld and National Women’s Hospital. She has recently been appointed Chief Executive of the Ellerslie Flower Show.

Mr Snedden has board experience through his membership of the Housing New Zealand Corporation board and the Auckland District Health Board. He is also a member of the boards of Ngati Whatua-owned Mai Media Ltd and Commonsense Organics Ltd, and is a trustee of the ASB Trust. Mr Snedden has considerable experience in commercial activity with Maori organisations in the Auckland region, and has a sound understanding of the role of public sector organisations in the community.

Dr Hucker says the new directors will bring an excellent range of skills and knowledge to the board. “I am delighted they have accepted appointment to the Watercare board and look forward to the significant contributions they will certainly make to the company.”

The SRG has recommended to the board that it elect Mr Hawkins as the chairperson of Watercare. This will be considered at the first meeting of the board in 2003.

Dr Hucker says the current chairperson, Mr Peter Drummond, retired from the board at today’s AGM.

“I want to thank Mr Drummond for his contribution to the company over the past seven years. The board has benefited from his leadership and I wish him all the very best for the future,” says Dr Hucker.

Watercare Services Ltd is New Zealand’s largest water and wastewater industry company. It is jointly owned by the city and district councils of Auckland, Manukau, North Shore, Papakura, Rodney and Waitakere. The Shareholders Representative Group represents Watercare Services Ltd’s six local authority shareholders and appoints an independent board to govern the company.

ENDS

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