1,177,000
Given back to our community in 2025
About Your Trusts
The Trusts is made up of the Portage Licensing Trust (PLT) and Waitākere Licensing Trust (WLT). Everything we do is about keeping things local in our communities. That’s why surplus profits from our stores and hospitality venues go right back into local schools, community groups, businesses and people who are dedicated to helping our place thrive.
Owned by the community. Run by the community. For the community.
Our Values
We exist to support our local community. The Trusts live by values that are not only crucial to us but also to the community we serve.
These principles underpin the way we do business every day. At the heart of how we operate, our values are the touchstones for how we work together. They drive our focus, guide our decisions and shape our goals. Being part of The Trusts means being part of a caring team dedicated to supporting amazing work in The West.
Our values are built on a business model committed to managing the socially responsible sale and supply of alcohol.
Our Area
Our People
All of our people share one common goal: to help communities in The West to thrive. This goal is shared by both staff working in our retail and hospitality venues as well as elected members.
Allan Pollard
Chief Executive Officer
I started in the hospitality industry as a dishwasher and have worked as a waiter, duty manager and venue manager right through to being CEO. For me what makes The West such a wonderful place is the sense of community.
Lee Clark
Executive Assistant
A proud daughter of The West since 1970. Married with 2 beautiful daughters and 4 gorgeous grandkids. For the past 17 ½ years I have been Executive Assistant at The Trusts, supporting the management and Boards of this valuable community asset.
To me, The West means totally unique, fabulously quirky people, beautiful ranges to explore, a windswept walk on the rugged west coast or a summertime dance across the hot black sand to find your perfect spot. Our place. Home.
Amanda Cassidy
General Manager – Hospitality and Marketing
I have 20 years marketing experience across FMCG and retail in NZ and am proud to utilise my expertise at The Trusts to make great things happen in West Auckland.
West Auckland is my home and my community since I moved here with my husband and four kids from Christchurch in 2019. There are so many things to do and enjoy and we love getting out and experiencing them.
Aaron Walding
General Manager – Retail
A sports nut and customer experience fanatic!
What The West means to me is diversity! From the cultural diversity to the Ranges to the black sand beaches. These are the things that make West Auckland such an incredible place.
Oonagh Hall
General Manager- Human Resources
As an experienced leader within Human Resources, I am passionate about enabling everyone to do their best work and recognising people’s talents and strengths. I enjoy partnering with business to create innovative and effective solutions with a focus on fostering a positive culture and engagement to drive success for all.
My passions outside working hours include mountain biking and walking. My happy place is definitely the beach.
To me, The West is a wonderland full of nature and breathtaking beaches. It is the perfect place to unwind and escape city life.
Richard Simmonds
General Manager of Finance and Business Systems
I am an experienced CFO with 30 years of accounting experience covering manufacturing, freight forwarding, retail, and hospitality sectors in both the United Kingdom and New Zealand. I am passionate about developing teams, coaching and mentoring, and using technology to make businesses more effective and efficient.
To me, West Auckland is memories of long summer days body surfing at Piha in my 20s.
Portage Licensing Trust
The Portage Licensing Trust operate industry leading retail and hospitality venues in the “Portage” area of The West.
We are 100% community owned, which means profits go straight back into Glendene, Kelston, Glen Eden, Kaurilands, Titirangi, Laingholm, Parau, Cornwallis, Huia, Little Huia, Whatipu, Green Bay, New Lynn, Avondale, Waterview, Blockhouse Bay, New Windsor & Owairaka, (west of Richardson & Boundary Rds).
Portage Elected Members
Every three years, as part of the local body elections, people in The West vote for members of the community to represent their views on the licensing trust of the area they live in. The members elected to each trust are the community’s voice and an essential link between the community ownership of The Trusts and the management of the commercial businesses of The Trusts.
Waitakere Licensing Trust
Waitākere Licensing Trust operates industry leading retail and hospitality venues in the “Waitākere” area of The West.
We are 100% community owned, which means profits go straight back into Whenuapai, Hobsonville, West Harbour, Waitākere Township, Massey, Red Hills, Henderson, Rānui, Swanson, Taupaki, Te Atatū Peninsula, Te Atatū Sth, Sunnyvale, Oratia, Waiatarua, Karekare, Piha, Bethells Beach.
Waitakere Elected Members
Every three years, as part of the local body elections, people in The West vote for members of the community to represent their views on the licensing trust of the area they live in.
The members elected to each trust are the community’s voice and an essential link between the community ownership of The Trusts and the management of the commercial businesses of The Trusts.
West Auckland Trust Services Board Members
Both the Portage and Waitakere Licensing Trusts run their management functions through West Auckland Trust Services Ltd (WATS).
WATS houses functions such as human resources, accounting, marketing and logistics, to streamline operations, reduce costs, and be more effective.
The WATS Board of seven Directors govern the business and oversee the Senior Management team. Three of the Directors are independent with commercial experience and complement the four Directors who are appointed from the licensing trusts. Their role is to manage the financial performance of the business and governance.
West Auckland Trust Services Board Members
Matt Harker
Chair
A proud Aucklander with Director and Chair experience in numerous community-facing organisations across care, health, housing, development, regeneration and kids’ support.
To me, The West is: An amazing collection of people and communities sharing amazing local spaces, parks, markets, forest and beaches with a bright and growing future.
Marcus Amosa
President Portage Trust & WATS Elected Member Director
I am a proud father of one daughter and live with my wife in Avondale. As a business owner, I am passionate about revitalising our town centres.
To me, The West is: Beaches, barbeques and chilling out with family and friends.
Linda Cooper MNZM
President Waitakere Trust & WATS Elected Member Director
Long time West Auckland volunteer and resident, committed to good community governance which benefits local people.
To me, The West is: Home, heart and good people, always wanting what’s best for family, our beautiful environment and the future of our tamariki.
Kirsten Andrews
WATS Independent Director
Kirsten Andrews has more than 25 years of experience in the property industry, from property development and strategy to asset and transaction management.
“I’m excited to be joining the WATS board at a critical time,” says Kirsten. “I look forward to contributing to an organisation that does such great work supporting the local community.”
Margi Watson
WATS Elected Member Director
Originally trained as a nurse and now involved with schools and in governance, I am passionate about empowering and supporting our people, organisations and communities. They are what make our area the best it can be.
To me The West is: I love my local spaces and parks, from Te Auaunga Oakley Creek to Avondale Markets and to the beach at the Bay, but mostly I enjoy being around the people who make our community unique and home
Mark Allen
WATS Elected Member Director
Mark lives at Te Henga with his partner, having raised three sons and worked in local government for 30 years, he has been the Executive Officer at Community Waitākere and a Waitakere Ranges Local Board member since 2019.
To me The West is: A collection of communities that does things its way, that doesn’t wait for permission and works together for all, an environment that is outstandingly beautiful, globally unique and loved by the people of the west, an economy of innovative and caring small businesses who work in and with their communities. In the west we continue wrestling with the big issues and we are finding our own solutions… I couldn’t live anywhere else.
David Allott
WATS Independent Director
I’m proud to call Auckland home and have executive experience leading large scale hospitality businesses across sport, tourism, hotels, conventions, restaurants and major events.
To me, The West is where a unique blend of wild nature and warm community come together. From the rugged beauty of the Waitakere ranges to laid back beaches there’s a real sense of freedom.
Amanda Cribb
WATS Independent Director
Amanda is a values-led Independent Director and Audit & Risk Chair with a strong governance background, commercial acumen, and deep experience in technology and transformation.
To me, The West is: home to Auckland’s best beaches – wild, beautiful, grounding – and a fiercely connected community grounded in resilience and heart. A visit to Te Henga Beach always feels like returning home.
Will Papesch
A born-and-bred West Aucklander who still proudly calls the West home, Will brings more than 20 years of local and international experience in the FMCG and alcohol industries. He specialises in marketing and strategy that deliver results.
To me, The West is: Where I grew up and where I’ve called home for the past 30 years. To me, it’s a distinctive and diverse community defined by the strength of its people.”
Documents & Resources
Find our past meeting notes, financial statements, strategy documents and more…
Documents & Resources
Find our past meeting notes, financial statements, strategy documents and more…
See our Documents & Resources
About Us FAQs
How did your Trusts get established in West Auckland?
Up until the 1940s, alcohol was prohibited or restricted in many parts of New Zealand. As prohibition faded out, many communities were still concerned about having a community-minded approach to the sale of alcohol. Licensing trusts were established in response to this and the first, the Invercargill Licensing Trust, was established in 1944 and is still going strong today.
It wasn’t until the early 1970s that West Aucklanders voted to establish the Waitakere Licensing Trust and Portage Licensing Trust. The law allows for the Trusts’ mandate to manage alcohol sales in West Auckland to be challenged and every so often it is. The last time was in 2003 when a referendum was held and residents voted to retain the model.
Is it true the Trusts control all liquor licensing in West Auckland?
No. The Trusts do not control liquor licensing, that is Auckland Council’s responsibility. Like anyone who wants to open a licensed venue in West Auckland, we must apply to the Auckland Council for a licence to operate our stores and venues.
Why do you oppose licence applications if someone wants to start up as competition?
We don’t. We have not opposed any licence applications in West Auckland for several years. The only venues that we have a community granted mandate to operate exclusively are those that trade late into the night (bars) where the primary focus is the sale of alcohol. These venues operate under a Tavern licence as required by the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act (2012).
Don’t the Trusts prevent freedom of choice?
No. Anyone can open a hospitality venue under a restaurant licence in West Auckland and there are plenty of licensed clubs too. These venues don’t have to sell food with every drink.
You are welcome to have a drink with or without food at more than 100 licensed hospitality venues in West Auckland already, with more planned to open from a range of different operators.
