The Government has appointed five trustees to the new Eden Park Trust Board, Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully announced today.

John Waller, Hugh Burrett, Michelle Boag, Morris Pita, and Derek Dallow have been appointed to the new Board, which was created under the recently-passed Eden Park Trust Board Amendment Act.

"A significant upgrade of Eden Park was one of the requirements of New Zealand's bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2011, and the Crown contributed a significant amount of taxpayer funds to the redevelopment project," Mr McCully said.

"In return for that investment, it was agreed that a new governance structure would be created for Eden Park to reflect the public ownership and interest in the facility.

"The new Eden Park Trust Board comes together at an important stage for the Park. The redevelopment is progressing well, and the Board now needs to steer that project to completion and ensure we maximise the opportunities this world-class facility presents for Auckland and the country," Mr McCully said.

The five Crown-appointed trustees join four other trustees: Warwick Nicoll and Rob Fisher from the current Eden Park Trust Board; Greg Muir, nominated by the Auckland Rugby Union, and Rex Smith, nominated by the Auckland Cricket Association.

"I congratulate the new trustees on their appointments, and wish them well with this important project," Mr McCully said.

"I also want to thank the current Trustees of the Eden Park Trust Board and members of both Auckland Cricket and Auckland Rugby for the time and energy they have given to the development of the Park. Through their endeavours and commitment, Eden Park will be a key asset for Auckland and the country for years to come."

Brief information about the new Crown-appointed trustees

John Waller is currently chairman of the Eden Park Redevelopment Board. He was appointed to that position in 2007 to oversee the project for the Rugby World Cup. Mr Waller is chairman of the Bank of New Zealand; an independent director of a number of large public companies, including Fonterra Co-operative Group, National Australia Bank and Sky Television Network, and a member of the Auckland Transition Agency.

Hugh Burrett has over 40 years' experience in the financial service industry, including as Director and Chief Executive Officer of ASB Bank. Mr Burrett has been a member of the Institute of Management, the Business Round Table, and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

Michelle Boag has 30 years' experience in government, consultancy and corporate public relations. She has an extensive background in the not-for-profit area, as a current Trustee of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust and a former President of Variety Club New Zealand. Ms Boag has been previously appointed to the Eden Park Board of Control, the Auckland Cricket Association, Manu Samoa Rugby Limited, the Mt Smart Advisory Board and the Auckland Surf Lifesaving Association.

Morris Pita

Morris Pita has a commercial and business background, having worked as a senior manager at Ernst & Young, and in commercial and project management roles at Mighty River Power. Mr Pita holds post graduate degrees in Business and Law from Oxford and Auckland Universities. He now operates a boutique consultancy business, Shea Pita & Associates, where he focuses on advising organisations working in Maori economic development, particularly in the energy sector.

Derek Dallow

Derek Dallow is a solicitor with over 29 years' experience and is a Partner at Davenports Harbour Lawyers in Auckland. He has an extensive business and property practice, specialising in sports law. He has consulted to several stadium and trust boards on commercial arrangements, funding options and sponsorship agreements, and is trustee of over 600 trusts in his personal and professional capacity.