At just 27, Te Aorangi Murphy-Fell is stepping into the role of chairperson of Bay Trust, describing the appointment as an honour and a responsibility to serve Bay of Plenty communities.

Mr Murphy-Fell, of Whakatāne, has spent the past four years as a Bay Trust trustee and the last year and a half as deputy chair.

He takes over the chair role after the former chair stepped down following three years in the position.

“It is a great opportunity to contribute to something that has been there for the benefit of the community,” he said.

“These are community funds we are looking after, and it is an honour to be in a position that is for the benefit of our families and our communities.”

Of Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Apa descent, Mr Murphy-Fell is the youngest member of the 12-strong board. He said that brought an important perspective.

“More of a youth and Māori voice,” he said.

“In saying that, I have had a lot of governance training and work over the last four or five years. When you are looking after large amounts of money, strong governance practices are essential.”

As chair, his focus is firmly on governance rather than management.

“My role is to ensure the board stays at a governance level and doesn’t dip too far into operational matters.”

Mr Murphy-Fell works professionally as a Māori language and education consultant for Haemata Limited, supporting initiatives that improve language and educational outcomes for Māori.

He was part of the team behind Hare Pōta me te Pakohu Kura Huna, the te reo Māori translation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and co-authored Ngā Hapa Reo: Common Māori Language Errors in 2024.

He holds a Bachelor of Management Studies with first class honours from the University of Waikato and is a graduate of the inaugural Master in Māori Language Excellence through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

His governance journey began early. He joined the Bay Trust board at 22, after already serving on the Squash Bay of Plenty board.

“Governance has always interested me, and I studied strategic management at university,” he said. “Bay Trust was looking for someone young, living in the Eastern Bay, with knowledge of te reo Māori, and I was lucky enough to fit what they were after.”

Bay Trust operates under the Community Trust Act, with trustees appointed by the Minister of Finance. It is one of 12 community trusts nationwide established after the sale of Trust Bank to Westpac in the 1990s.

Today, Bay Trust manages a portfolio of about $280 million. Its role is to invest those funds in line with its trust deed and distribute returns through grants and impact investments, explained Mr Murphy-Fell.

“Our grants budget is about $9 million a year for the Bay of Plenty. We also create impact through low-interest loans or investments in initiatives that deliver both a financial return and a social benefit.”

Bay Trust is refreshing its long-term direction, with a 2030 strategy to be rolled out over the coming months. Its focus areas remained community wellbeing, Māori aspirations, environmental protection and sustainable housing, he said.

As chair, Mr Murphy-Fell said his immediate priority was ensuring the right governance processes were in place.

“For the board the focus in 2026 will be starting the implementation of our 2030 strategy.”

He acknowledged the challenge of balancing needs across a diverse region, noting Bay Trust receives about $3 in funding requests for every $1 it distributes.

“The need is definitely growing,” he said. “Philanthropic organisations everywhere are being asked to do more with less. Housing and climate change remain big issues.”

Bay Trust is headquartered in Tauranga and operates with a lean staff of about six.

“The trustees are a barometer of what is happening in the community,” Mr Murphy-Fell said. “Our job is to make sure the funds we are entrusted with have the greatest possible impact.”