Dunedin Diocesan Trust Board

Andrew Metcalfe — Feb 14, 2024

The Dunedin Diocesan Trust Board (DDTB) is an important part of our Diocese, and is currently looking for two new Trustees...

What is the DDTB?

The Dunedin Diocesan Trust Board (DDTB), registered charity number CC362214, has two main roles:

Firstly, it manages two investment funds (the Income Fund and the Growth Fund) as trustee for diocesan faith communities and institutions, e.g. social services, residential and community based services, educational institutions and so on. These bodies deposit funds with it. The total funds under management in the two Funds is currently over $41.3 million dollars.
The second major responsibility of the Board is the legal ownership of all Diocesan properties: it acts a trustee for all Diocesan institutions including local churches and parishes, who are the beneficial owners, i.e. they make use of these resources for their mission and ministry. In this capacity, the Board arranges insurance of properties under the terms of Statute 9, The Insurance Board Statute 1939. It has also taken a leadership role in the assessment of properties for seismic stability.

The DDTB is incorporated according to the Canons of the General Synod te Hinota Whanui (Anglican Church in NZ) and is controlled by the Dunedin Diocesan Trust Board Amendment Statute 2022. Part of the DDTB processes includes the Investment Committee, which monitors current investments, working within a defined framework, with the aim of optimising net returns for investors within the context and investment profile of each fund.

Have a look at the latest Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives (SIPO) attached below, signed off in November 2023. This outlines guidelines for the DDTB, including making sure that investment's are legal, spread across a variety of portfolios to reduce risk and meet accepted ethical standards i.e.:

excluding any that are primarily engaged in the manufacture of weapons of war;
manufacture or marketing of tobacco or recreational drugs;
utilise any form of child labour, forced labour, or otherwise do not uphold human rights;
are inconsistent with the Five Marks of Mission of the Anglican Church of NZ, or;
breach the United Nations Global Compact.

It also has a statement around Mission Aligned Investment that includes discounted mortgage and commercial property interest rates for any Diocesan entities.

What do we look for in a Trustee?

Trustees need to be able to attend monthly meetings on the third Tuesday (10-11 am) and other brief meetings if a particular piece of work needs to be considered more urgently (e.g. considering offers on a property that is for sale). The Board could be flexible to accommodate any prospective Trustees who may not be able to attend monthly meetings on Tuesdays. Meetings take place in person and/or by videoconferencing.

The DDTB have a skills matrix and use this to look at how prospective members may complement existing and needed skills. This skill and quality mix includes:

Church - how the church works on a practical and/or spiritual level. Knowledge of the Anglican church in particular is helpful but not essential.
Property - knowledge and experience around property matters including preserving and repurposing assets.
Governance experience - current and past governance roles or membership on governance boards.
Investment - knowledge and experience in financial investment settings.
Legal - specific legal experience, including property and Trust law.
Strategy - ability to see the bigger picture and plan ahead.
Policy development - skills in developing and reviewing policy related to the DDTB and wider church.
Diversity - ability to bring a unique perspective/diversity - age, gender, ethnicity, tangata whenua, geographical location.

If you are interested in becoming a Trustee, please contact the Diocesan Registrar registrar@calledsouth.org.nz who can answer any initial questions and put you in touch with people you can talk to further.

To apply to be a Trustee, you will need to complete the following forms (also attached below):

Application form to the Diocese of Dunedin Trusts Board - DDTB (the Board which appoints members onto Diocesan Organisation Boards or Trusts);
Charities Declaration and;
Declaration of Adherence for Trust Boards.

Have a look at our current Boards Orientation Letter for all board positions in the Diocese of Dunedin.