Local businessman says 'yes' to Horizon share purchase

Wade Brown is one of those dynamic multitaskers who sees ‘the big picture’ while managing the details. Better known as the owner of New World Kawerau and former owner of McDonalds Whakatane, he is also an elected trustee on the Eastern Bay Energy Trust, where he co-manages a charitable fund worth almost $70 million dollars. Mr Brown is asking the community to support the Eastern Bay Energy Trust’s proposal to buy all of Horizon Energy. He encourages people to vote ‘yes’ in the Energy Trust’s consumer poll, which opened this week and runs until 26 June.

Trustees aim to grow the Energy Trust’s 77.29% shareholding in Horizon, the local lines company, to 100%. A majority vote in the consumer poll will enable the share purchase. “I’d like to see everyone vote ‘yes’ in the consumer poll. With 100% ownership of Horizon, the company would be community owned and its profits would be returned to the community via grants and investments. We could help so many more people,” said Mr Brown.

Over the past twenty years, the Energy Trust has given out more than $30 million dollars to thousands of energy related community projects. The Trust grants approximately $1.5 million dollars each year to Eastern Bay organisations including marae, schools, clubs, preschools and district councils. Mr Brown said that he feels passionate about the Energy Trust’s contribution to the community and added, “The Trust delivers benefit to thousands of Eastern Bay people every year through energy education, study scholarships, home energy checks, insulation retrofits and other energy related community grants. If we can secure all Horizon shares, the Trust fund will continue to grow and through growth, we can fund more projects that benefit even more local people.”