Are you passionate about seeing more affordable, quality housing for people in need? If so take on a rewarding, impactful role as a board member of Dwell Housing Trust, a Wellington based community housing provider. This is your chance to bring your specialist skills to Dwell, to further strengthen its foundations and be part of creating a long-term housing legacy.

We are seeking potential trustees with the following experience and skill sets:

• Te Ao Māori
• Social housing experience
• Governance including potential to be chair
• Finance
• Legal and secretarial

All trustees are expected to have strong relevant networks and enjoy networking, plus be part of our fundraising work.

Dwell has significant projects underway to provide new quality housing in the Wellington region with an aim of 250 homes by 2025. We need trustees who can assist the Board in fulfilling its governance role over these new projects and the ongoing growth of Dwell.

As well as your specialist skills you will have a social heart, be a sound strategic thinker, a strong people person and a great team player. It is desirable that you have a track record as a board member with a good knowledge of governance. The responsibilities and qualities of the Trust board members, are listed below. This is an unpaid role.

Dwell is seeking to appoint two new trustees to fill current vacancies and to allow for continuity when existing long serving trustees conclude their terms.

Dwell has a minimum of eight board meetings each year including a strategic planning day. Most meetings are held early evening in Wellington CBD. There is a lot of information about our great organisation on this website including biographies of our people, information about Dwell and what we do, and our latest annual report.

If you would like to speak with someone about Dwell and the role of trustee you are welcome to contact Keith Taylor, Chair at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 021 836419 or Alison Cadman, Chief Executive at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 027 554 2621.

To apply please email Alison on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 5pm on 6 June 2023 with:

• Your up-to-date CV showing your career history and governance experience
• A brief supporting statement detailing how you are a good candidate for trustee
• A completed declaration form

Key dates and selection process

Closing date: 5pm 6 June 2023

Shortlisting and interviews: 7 to 14 June 2023 (this may vary depending on interest)

Appointment panel’s recommendations submitted to board for approval: 19 June 2023

First board meetings: 31 July or 11 September

The above dates are indications only. We may also appoint strong candidates as applications are received.

Role profile for trustees

Responsibilities of all trustees

• Agree the strategic direction of Dwell and supporting strategic plan
• Establish and regularly review the strategic goals and objectives of Dwell
• Agree the priorities and policies of Dwell
• Agree policies and making decisions on key issues, including matters that involve significant financial or other risk to Dwell or affects its ability to achieve its vision or strategic objectives
• Ensure Dwell’s assets and resources are used effectively, and in line with its values, to achieve the vision and strategic objectives
  Monitor Dwell’s performance
• Appointing and monitoring the performance of the chief executive who is responsible for the day-to-day management of operations
• Ensure Dwell is conducting itself lawfully and ethically in all matters, in line with its vision and values
• Commit to excellence in governance, including regularly monitoring, assessing and improving its own performance
• Attend all meetings, or if absolutely unavoidable, apologise in advance for absence
• Prepare well and in advance for all meetings, including reading all board papers and other information provided
• Consider, debate and vote on issues before the board based on the best interests of Dwell
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with board members and the chief executive
• Manage stakeholder relationships as agreed
• Look to the future and keep informed of issues and trends that may affect the vision and organisational health of Dwell
• Complete work in the agreed timeframes
• Be an ambassador for Dwell and act in and support of its best interests at all times

Qualities of all trustees

• Commitment to Dwell and demonstrates Dwell’s values
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Good relationship management
• Good governance knowledge and skills
• Team player
• Problem solving/ solution seeking
• Professional
• Strategic thinking

Are you lucky enough to know that feeling of being “at home”. Too many children and young people in our city and country are growing up without knowing what it’s like to have a long-term home.

Bring your fundraising experience and be part of our dynamic and innovative organisation. This is an opportunity to create and shape a new role and it’s an exciting time to be part of our growth. You’ll join a nimble and supportive team where you’ll get to experience variety, have influence in decision-making and opportunities for development. We offer flexibility and we encourage work life balance and remote working if wanted.

Who we are

Dwell Housing Trust is a community housing provider that provides quality affordable housing to people in need in the Wellington area. We are more than a landlord and we want our tenants to “live well, be well, do well – with Dwell”.We are a for-purpose developer of new homes.

We have had some significant financial support from people who want housing to be part of their legacy. Come and help us find people who want to be part of building more homes to house more people in need.

We need someone who can:

• Establish and manage major giving and legacy giving schemes, setting up or improving systems and processes to effectively identify, plan, engage, ask and steward donors, investors and pledgers.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Dwell to establish protocols for analysing regular giving data and support engagement.
• Regularly review data across a range of existing prospect segments.
• Conduct regular network mapping.
• Gain insight to build an evidence base to define cases for support for major giving and legacies.
• Along with Dwell’s comms adviser use research to design, implement and improve donor and pledger communication and cultivation activities including (but not limited to): marketing collateral, website journeys, in-person events, meetings, e-comms, and key external campaigns.
• Effectively demonstrate Dwell’s brand and values through design and delivery of campaigns/communications.
• Use Dwell’s CRM database as a core part of managing major giving and legacy portfolios including ensuring relevant records are up-to-date, monitored and any insights acted upon.
• Work with colleagues to establish pledge/donation handling and financial monitoring processes for major donors and legators, including maximising tax efficiency where possible.
• Manage a budget and reach financial goals.

More information can be found in the Major Giving and Legacies Manager job description. If you are interested in this unique opportunity to make a difference to your community and your career then please  send your CV and a cover letter (telling us why you would be a good fit for the role) to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This ad will remain open until we find the right person. If you would like to talk about the role please contact our CE, Alison Cadman by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 04 384 4854

 

Like making a real difference to people’s lives through your work?

This exciting role is at the heart of what we do. We are looking for someone to take responsibility for our tenancy management. You will deliver the services that our diverse range of tenants want and support the smooth running of our great organisation.

Be part of a supportive close-knit team where life balance is encouraged, flexible work arrangements are available, people are at the heart of what we do, and forward-thinking is one of our values. You will have lots of opportunities for professional development and to make a real difference with your work.

This role will suit someone who wants to work part-time or full-time - with a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Who we are
Dwell Housing Trust is a community housing provider that provides quality affordable housing to people in need in the Wellington area. We are more than a landlord and we want our tenants to “live well, be well, do well – with Dwell”.

We need someone who:

• is a people person and has excellent communication skills
• has a passion for customer service
• has the experience to provide a great housing management service
• will be comfortable dealing with customers on a range of issues
• is highly organised and can juggle multiple demands and who also has an eye for detail
• is assertive and articulate and can set clear boundaries
• is a great problem solver
• has great IT skills
• has a driver’s licence
• is culturally competent.

You may not have a background in social housing but if you get a buzz out of helping people and thrive on getting the job done well, we would love to hear from you.

For a full description of the position please read the Tenancy Manager job description. If you want to talk about the role please call Gabriela Montane on 04 384 4854 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To apply please send your CV along with a cover letter to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before 9am on 9th November 2022.

We are very proud of the Dwell Board as they won the Team Governance award at the NZ Mahi Aroha Awards 2022 on 22 June 2022! Yahoo! Such a special way to celebrate National Volunteer Week #NVW2022, especially with the theme being "time to shine". We are very pleased that we can shine a light on the great work our current and past trustees have done. Their skills and passion make a difference to our mahi and people in housing need. They are amazing volunteers.

Thank you to Volunteer Wellington, InternetNZ, Domain Name Commission and KPMG for a wonderful event and for recognising the mahi of our board and the other great organisations in our communities. Another D'well deserved award for Dwell!

Photo credit: Volunteer Wellington
Pictured: Mayor Andy Foster and some of the Dwell Board: Keith Taylor, Devon Diggle, Julie Motley, Clare Aspinall

In February we welcomed Gabriela Montane as our new Tenancy Operations Manager. Gabriela moved to Wellington 15 years ago and has worked in the social and community services for most of that time. She was part of the Wellington City Council City Housing team before coming to Dwell. Her work there was focused on tenant welfare, and she later acted in a leadership role. Before City Housing, Gabriela worked with the resettlement team within Red Cross providing support to former refugees in the Wellington region. Gabriela has trained in Clinical Psychology and brings a wealth of expertise, experience and passion to our team. She is a mum of two and is fluent in Spanish. We are very lucky and grateful to have her with us on our journey.  

In June we welcomed Silvia Matonse to the role of Team Administrator - and superstar. Silvia found Dwell had the perfect combination she was looking for to put her skills and experience to the service of the community by making sure people are well housed. Silvia originates from Mozambique and trained there as a tax lawyer. She came to Aotearoa six years ago and worked as an administrator in New Plymouth before moving to Wellington with her family this year. She is a mum of two and is fluent in Portuguese. Again we are incredibly lucky to have her in our team adding to our diversity and rich commitment. Her baking abilities are highly appreciated as well!

New staff members Gabriela Montane (left) and Silvia Matonse

We are very proud of our CE Alison Cadman who this month attended an investiture ceremony at Government House to receive her ONZM from the Governor-General.

 “Part of my motivation for accepting the award was to thank all those that are our “community” in community housing. All the people who have been and are part of the Dwell whanau and who come together to create homes.

I have enormous pride in all our achievements. Our greatest achievement though is we have provided people with one of the most important human needs. As the Governor-General said to me “you do the most important work, you give people a home”.