Van Uden joins NZTA board

FORMER Queenstown Lakes mayor Vanessa van Uden has been appointed to the NZ Transport Agency board.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges announced her appointment, and that of ‘‘professional director’’ Mike Darrow, who is also Counties Manukau District Health Board’s audit and risk committee chairman, yesterday.

‘‘Ms van Uden brings a new perspective, along with her local government experience.

‘‘Mr Darrow has wideranging governance experience . . . his appointment brings extensive transport knowledge and an injection of fresh energy to the NZTA’s board,’’ Mr Bridges said.

In a brief statement, Ms van Uden told the Otago Daily Times she was ‘‘thrilled to be appointed’’.

Ms van Uden was appointed as Manukau City Council’s contract manager in 1996, before taking on the same role for the Queenstown Lakes District Council in 1998.

In 2007, she was elected as a councillor, successfully sought the mayoralty in 2010 and was reelected in 2013.

She did not seek reelection last year.

In March, Ms van Uden was appointed to the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union board.

Adrienne YoungCooper — a member of the NZTA board since August 2011 and a member of its Investment and Operations committee — was reappointed by Mr Bridges.

The NZTA is a Crown entity whose primary role is to contribute to an effective, efficient, and safe land transport system in the public interest.

The board is chaired by Chris Moller and other board members are Dame Fran Wilde (deputy chairwoman), Chris Ellis, Leo Lonergan and Nick Rogers.

Other reappointments announced by Mr Bridges yesterday were Peter Cowper, to the Maritime New Zealand board, and Grant Lilly, to the board of the Civil Aviation Authority. Both men have been on their respective boards since 2011.

Lawyer and Meredith Connell board chairwoman Anna Adams was appointed to the CAA board.