Former MP Pita Paraone has been elected as the new chair of the Waitangi National Trust Board. He replaces Jeremy Williams who steps down after three years in the role. Mr Williams remains on the Board in the seat reserved for a member of the family of Archdeacon Henry Williams, one of the key figures in the history of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Jeremy Williams has been chair, and previously deputy chair, of the Board in a time of major improvement in the infrastructure of the Treaty Grounds. He leaves the role at a high point in the life of the independent Trust: a new visitor welcome building begins operation on Monday, along with two other new visitor amenity buildings. These mark the completion of a five million dollar project this year that has included re-roofing the historic Treaty House, and refurbishing the world's largest waka which is housed at Waitangi.

Just over a year ago Mr Williams announced free entry to the Treaty Grounds for New Zealanders for the first time since 1937. "These and other developments at the Treaty Grounds are steps along the way as we build up the nation's birthplace for the future. They have been made possible by sound planning and financial management; and the building up of reserves is now paying dividends. We also have in place a management team with national credibility, and which enjoys the support of the local community, and that helps us get things done.

"After six years as deputy chair, and three as chair, its time to step aside and freshen the team. I couldn't think of a better person to hand over to than Pita Paraone."

New chair Pita Paraone was born in the Bay of Islands. He has been on the Trust Board since 1997, in the seat specified for a member of the Hone Heke, Kawiti, Waka Nene and Pomare chiefly families. He is currently based in Whangarei.

At its meeting yesterday the Board also welcomed a new member, Stuart Graham, a police officer based in Tauranga. Mr Graham will represent the family of Edward Gibbon Wakefield.