Helen Webster

North Otago

Helen Webster was born and raised in Central Southland but has lived in North Otago since 1978. Helen and her husband have three adult children and two beautiful grand-daughters. She has been a Trustee with the Otago Community Trust since October 2009.

Helen and her husband are arable farmers in partnership with their son, daughter-in-law and the Mitchell Family in North Otago. The Mitchell & Webster Group own and operate Topflite bird and small animal feeds manufacturing & marketing company.

Her significant business skills and community knowledge have assisted a number of groups including a long association with the Young Farmers Clubs, having served on the National Committee and is a past Otago/Southland Regional Chairwoman. Helen has also been the President of the North Otago Plunket Society, President of the Rotary Club of Oamaru and a trustee on the Waitaki Boys High School Board. She is currently a Community Representative on the North Otago Safer Communities Council Restorative Justice panel and has recently been appointed as a Marriage Celebrant. She has also been involved in organising large events for the past two years as the Co-ordinator for the Oamaru Wine and Food Festival. She has also been involved in organising large events in North Otago including "The Big Splash" (the opening of the North Otago Irrigation Scheme), Oamaru Wine and Food Festival and CCS 75th Jubilee celebrations and is currently on the organising committee for the Waitaki Golden Oldies Rugby Festival and Concert being held in conjunction with the Rugby World Cup.

For six years Helen worked as the North Otago Electorate agent for Gavan Herlihy when he was the member of Parliament for Otago. Helen has always been interested in assisting young people to take advantage of educational opportunities and gain leadership skills to assist them in reaching their potential. As her own children were always involved in sports teams she has spent many enjoyable hours supporting their team committees and fund-raising for rugby, hockey and netball organisations at club and provincial levels. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking, gardening and attending as many shows as is possible in Oamaru's wonderful refurbished Opera House.