10.30PM: Despite an agreement to speak with gay media following the heated and controversial NZ AIDS Foundation AGM, the Foundation trust board chair appears to have gone to ground and cannot be reached for an arranged interview. Simon Robb, clearly stressed after taking the bulk of the anti-board heat at Saturday night's highly critical membership meeting, declined to be interviewed immediately following the AGM, at which board proposals and processes were roundly criticised and the board narrowly escaped a no confidence vote. He did, however, agree to be interviewed this (Monday) mid-morning, but as of this evening, more than twelve hours later, had not responded to attempts to contact him, either directly by GayNZ.com or through official NZAF channels. The trust board, which is separate from the operational part of the AIDS Foundation, is understood to have met yesterday to consider the sentiments expressed and remits passed at the AGM, but no further information has been forthcoming. At the AGM the embattled board was told by a succession of Foundation members, including gay community representatives, HIV+ people and staff, to improve its governance skills, abandon its reluctance to consult with stakeholders, thoroughly review its understanding of the Foundation's core constituency and repair rifts caused by its recent actions. Those actions started with its announcement of proposals for 50/50 Maori/Pakeha board membership quotas, the departure of its previous chair in disgrace, and subsequent muddled and occasionally contradictory responses to questions by concerned members and media.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Monday, 21st November 2005 - 12:00pm